Kyiv, Ukraine – 20th December, 2025 – written by: Karl Donvil
The purpose of my visit to Kiev was the “Dogs-Heroes of Ukraine” celebration. In a small hall, outside the city centre, 12 dog teams, private teams as well as service dogs from the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine, and others), involved with all kinds of army and police tasks were honored with the title of “Dog-Hero of Ukraine”. This ceremony celebrates the dogs in the first place which makes it unique worldwide. All this is the work of two persons; FCI judge, Staff Sergeant & combat veteran SergiyBondaryuk, together with YuliyaStrizhkina, the author of the project Dogs-Heroes of Ukraine, and WDPA member. You can read the story of each hero dog on the official website of the Dogs-Heroes project.
The second part was called the “Embrace of Goodness” award. Here, 15 teams of volunteers were honored for their significant contribution to the welfare of soldiers, dog owners, dogs and the country in general. I was invited as the representative of the World Dog Press Association. Along with a considerable gift from Japan Spitz loving people from Japan (this via Yuliya, who is a Japanese Spits lover herself), and the members of our association, we collected a considerable amount of money (> 6000 €) and bought dry food, medicines, thick and flea treatments, and other veterinary stuff that Yuliya helped to distribute to the places where it was most needed. Some were awarded for their assistance with evacuations from the warzone, rehabilitation, adoption of dogs, permanent and temporarily, and all kinds of other difficult situations. Others assisted with their dogs in dreadful situations.
The 3rd and last part of the ceremony was dedicated to the photo contest organized by one Ukraine’s most famous pet photographers, Mrs. Kateryna Mumzinska (WDPA member). It proves that live continues and pets are loved and cherished as part of the families, notwithstanding the war. I was one of her jury members. The competition was open to pros and amateurs and there were some very good photos. My personal choice went to a photo made by Mykhailo Lukianov also a WDPA member. And this was pure coincidence as all photos were anonymously.
I must sadly announce that Oleksandr Dvernytskyi is our first WDPA member from Ukraine, who has been called up for Military service. Let us hope and pray that we will be able to welcome him again safe and well in our midst, once this horrible war is over.
