A 77-Year-Old Ukrainian Woman Puts Her Life On The Line To Care For Over 700 Animals At A Shelter
Many people have gone to great lengths to protect and care for animals caught in the crossfire in Ukraine since the conflict began. Whether it's risking their lives to physically carry their pets with them as they flee for safety or staying behind to care for the animals whose owners have died, unsung heroes have stepped up in times of need all around Ukraine.
It's been the same for 77-year-old Asya Serpinska, who made the difficult decision to put her own life in jeopardy for the sake of her animal sanctuary in Hostomel, approximately 22 miles northwest of Kyiv. Serpinska's shelter had roughly 600 canines and over 100 cats when the invasion began.
As people began to evacuate, she took in a number of zoo animals that had been abandoned. Serpinska held her position while Russian soldiers continued to advance, soon encircling the town on all sides in an attempt to conquer it.
The brave woman then dashed to the shelter as soon as she saw the enemy approaching, opening the enclosures so the vulnerable animals wouldn't be trapped inside. Even during the bombardment, she and a few devoted employees stayed to look after them.
Asya Serpinska, a 77-year-old Ukrainian woman, risked her life to stay behind and care for over 700 animals in her animal rescue.
“The first thought that crossed my mind was that I had to run to the shelter,” Serpinska recalls. “I was consciously going to war. My people were here, my dogs were here.”
As if that wasn't enough, Serpinska also took over the management of a small private zoo after witnessing it burn to the ground. Its previous owners had fled, fearful for their own safety and unsure of how to protect themselves and the creatures they housed.
However, their departure left the unfortunate creatures alone and unable to survive. Serpinska and her colleagues had to struggle through the smoke to save as many animals as possible when they arrived.
There were many unusual animals among the wildlife, such as turtles and peacocks. However, one lion managed to survive the fire and was rescued by the rescuers.
“The first thought that crossed my mind was that I had to run to the shelter"
“For five weeks, we would go there under shelling and bullets to feed that lion because it had been locked in a cage and we didn’t have the keys,” Serpinska recalls.
She and her team were threatened by Russian soldiers who planted a land mine near the lion's cage, but she attempted to talk with them to prevent the innocent animal from being killed. Despite her best efforts, the troops detonated the mine, but the lion managed to survive.
Serpinska also took over the management of a small private zoo
Russian soldiers came to the shelter on several occasions and even tried to kill a lion she rescued from a zoo
On another occasion, Russian soldiers arrived at the shelter and proceeded to lock Serpinska and her team in a room, telling them that a land mine had been placed on the door, which would kill everyone if they opened it. They soon discovered that the threat had been a hoax to pressure them into compliance when they were rescued.
That did not, however, alleviate their anxiety and distress. Serpinska and her team had many dangerous—and potentially life-threatening—interactions with Russian troops when they seized the town, including one terrible incident in which Serpinska's own beloved dog, Gina, was slain.
Despite the pain and terror, they persisted. Serpinska is attempting to restore her shelter now that Hostomel is back under Ukrainian authority while it heals from the war's damage.
The most important thing is responsibility,” she says. “Rescue animals to remain human.”
Despite their horrible experiences, the animals appear to be happy and healthy.
Many of the town's buildings have been burned or destroyed, leaving much of the town desolate. The courageous 77-year-old woman, on the other hand, is optimistic about the future.
Serpinska has already started collecting donations to keep the shelter open, and she is still finding homes for the animals she worked so hard to protect as the town returns to life. Against all odds, she made it to the other side while doing her best to offer a safe and caring environment for helpless animals.
They are all hoping for a better tomorrow
Surprisingly, despite their traumatic experiences, the shelter animals appear to be happy and healthy. And for Serpinska, that is the most important thing.
“It doesn’t matter who you protect: children, people, animals, nature. The most important thing is responsibility,” she says. “Rescue animals to remain human.”
We hope she and the whole of Ukraine will return to a peaceful life soon.
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