The support of soldier rescues isn't just a side project for Nowzad — it's why our charity was founded in the first place. Our origin story begins with Former Royal Marine Pen Farthing, who whilst deployed in Afghanistan back in 2007, rescued a fighting dog named Nowzad. He became Pen’s best friend for life. 

Pen recognised a universal truth: in the chaos and horror of war, the bond between a soldier and a defence-less animal offers a vital lifeline — a source of comfort, hope, and humanity. This is what drives us every day to help these forgotten animals in war zones like Ukraine.

From Lyman to Life-Saving TNVR

Imagine holding your position in an area utterly ravaged by shelling — the very definition of a warzone. That's where our soldiers were in Lyman when, against all odds, a pregnant cat appeared. She was about to give birth. Lyman, a key railway hub in the Donetsk region, has seen some of the most intense and destructive battles of the war, leaving the surrounding areas completely devastated.

Ignoring the immediate threat of fire, the soldiers took a break from the fight to act as midwives. They successfully helped this momma cat deliver four tiny kittens! All five were then safely transported by the soldiers to Izyum where they were sterilised by Nowzad-sponsored vet teams, and are now waiting for a chance at a peaceful, forever home.

It's not just about one-off rescues, though; for many units, animals become integral members of the team, and their source of normalcy in the chaos. We see this often in Borova (the village that featured in our Day 2 story), where soldiers bring their unit animals — the cats and dogs that live alongside them in their positions — specifically for sterilisation. This keeps their battle buddies healthy and prevents overpopulation.

Nowzad is proud to support these heroes by helping fund the vital veterinary care, sterilisation, and transportation needed for both the rescued animals and the soldiers' beloved unit companions.

Thank you for following these powerful stories of compassion in the midst of conflict this week. Every share and donation helps us continue this life-saving work - we honestly couldn’t do any of this without your support.

If you'd like to donate to our Ukraine efforts, please click here.