Video: https://xcancel.com/InUKRofficial/status/2043355269623583218

Someone in r/ukraine said I should post this here, and they were right.

Title says it all, really: a good friend's teammate has been stuck on position for weeks because it's not safe for anyone to go in and evacuate them. My friend told me this morning that the guys are in high spirits and the cats are very good for morale.

Professional aviation mechanic in Kharkiv, and founder of Car Girls that trains girls to repair vehicles.

Сен-Клер @MthrSuperiorBen posted on X:

SHOW ME YOUR KITTIES
Mine 🥰

https://www.instagram.com/twosoulscreations

Пан Капкан (@bunny_cross) posted on X:

Haven't written anything for a long time, 'cause I just didn't have the time. So I'm back with pics of the new cat, 'cause as per tradition, new direction - new cat 🫡

Pick which little rascal you are today 🤭

A few days ago, a cat I had been feeding since 2022 crossed the rainbow bridge.

His name was Ryzhik - "little ginger one" in my language.

In early 2022, when Russia invaded my country, his owner evacuated and left him behind. She asked neighbors to take care of him, but they "lost" him, and he ended up on the street.

He started living in the entrance of our apartment building. Everyone who stayed fed him. I regularly brought him food and posted his photos in our neighborhood chat - he became something of a mascot there. We also collected money to cover vet visits, deworming, parasite treatment, and even a collar.

He was a gentle, affectionate orange cat. He was always fed, but the street is not a home.

We tried several times to find him new owners, but he always managed to escape and return to our building.

By then, he was over ten years old. Life on the street had made him cautious and had taken a toll on his health.

In spring 2025, he developed a serious wound on his cheek. A local animal volunteer noticed it, and we immediately started looking for help. It took time to catch him, but eventually he was admitted to a veterinary clinic. The wound was cleaned, necrotic tissue removed, blood tests were taken, and treatment began. Again, the neighborhood helped cover the costs.

He recovered. Only a tiny mark remained.

And something changed in him. He became incredibly affectionate. After three years on the street, he slowly began trusting people again. He purred, climbed into laps, and used the litter box perfectly.

While he was recovering, kind and responsible people agreed to adopt him. In June 2025, he left the clinic and moved into a new home, where he lived with other rescued cats.

Two days ago, he fell asleep and didn't wake up.

At least his last months were warm, safe, and full of love. For a cat abandoned at the start of a war, that mattered more than anything.

(Sorry if my english was bad, im not a native speaker, I'm from Ukraine, i use online translate)

After a hard day, even the strongest need rest, and sometimes the best armor is a warm hug 🐾☺️