Since February 24th, Ukraine has been under Russian attack. Half a year later, Ukrainian citizens have time and again proven their tenacity and strength of will. Even as Russian cruelty threatens their lives, they continue to endure. Among them are heroes fighting to help innocent animals.
Sisters Evgeniya and Olga Drach are two brave animal lovers who put themselves in harm’s way to make sure cats in Ukraine survive. From the first moments of the invasion, the Drach sisters have continued to help the cats of the feline rescue center Hochookota, or ‘I Want a Cat’ in English, get their chance at the happy and safe life every kitty deserves.
In Harm’s Way
Hailing from the capital city of Kyiv, Evgeniya and Olga have loved animals since they were young. Throughout life, they’ve found ways to help cats in need. As adults, the sisters work for Hochookota, an animal rescue with a heart for felines.
As Evgeniya explained to TreeHugger, “We help homeless cats in hard situations—take them from the streets, heal them, and take care till they find a forever home.”
And since both sisters are photographers, their artistic eye creates beautiful portraits of the cats that entice more families to adopt them.
But when the war broke out, everything changed, and life became uncertain for the Drach sisters, their cats, dog, and the fifty cats housed at Hochookota.
From February 24th to March 8th, Evgeniya and Olga went back and forth between their home and a parking garage, chased there when sirens blared out warnings of Russian missiles. With them through it all, their three cats, Finik, Shalfey, and Kometa, and dog Pandora. But seeing the wreckage of a TV tower hit by a Russian missile just half a mile from their home, Evgeniya said, “We decided we need to evacuate the animals to a safe place.”
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And it wasn’t just Finik, Shalfey, Kometa, and Pandora the sisters wanted to evacuate. The cats at Hochookota needed to go with them too. Evgeniya explained many of these cats came to their care after their parents were killed or from destroyed buildings, “especially in little cities around Kyiv, which were occupied by the Russian army.”
To make the evacuation happen, Evgeniya and Olga secured a cargo vehicle and loaded everyone inside. In the frigid night, they drove to the border and escaped into Poland. From there, it was on to Germany, where the transported cats would start their hunt for their forever families. Many of them have already completed their search.
Returned to Save More Feline Victims of War
But the sisters weren’t done helping cats in Ukraine. With their furry family members, Evgeniya and Olga returned to Kyiv.
“Now we are here, helping new cats, victims of war.”
When asked why the work is important to her, Evgeniya shared, “I see these animals, and I don’t want them to suffer, and I know I can help them. So I do.”
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Keep up with the Drach sisters’ work and Ukrainian cats in need by following Hochookota on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.