More than 300 dogs starved to death in a Ukrainian animal shelter after they went weeks without food or water due to constant Russian bombings, an animal charity said Tuesday.
Volunteers at the shelter in Borodyanka made the grim discovery last week after they were able to gain access for the first time since Russian troops invaded Ukraine two months ago.
“The refuge was injured in the war, but the animals were not killed by bombings,” UAnimals, the animal charity, said in a Facebook post.
“They died a terrible death without food and water, locked in their cells.”
Footage and images shared on social media by the charity showed the bodies of severely malnourished dogs piled on top of each other.
Of the 485 dogs left at the shelter, only 150 were still alive when volunteers were able to return after Russian troops left, the charity said.
An apartment building in Borodyanka near the animal shelter was destroyed. AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Volunteers were unable to access the shelter for two months after Russia invaded Ukraine. Sipa USA via APThe majority of the rescued dogs are still in critical conditions, while an undisclosed number died on the way to medical facilities, the charity added.
