Loyalty in the Midst of War: A Story from Ukraine

As Russian forces advanced toward Kyiv in early 2022, millions of Ukrainian civilians were forced to flee their homes under extreme pressure and uncertainty. Among them was a Ukrainian woman named Alisa, whose experience captured a quiet but profound truth about love, responsibility, and loyalty in times of war.

When Alisa attempted to escape the capital, traffic came to a complete standstill. Roads that once connected neighborhoods and families became immovable lines of fear and desperation. With no vehicles able to move forward, the only remaining option was to continue on foot. For many evacuees, this meant leaving behind possessions, memories, and in some cases, loved ones.

Alisa faced an especially painful dilemma. Her elderly dog, weakened by age and unable to walk long distances, could not keep up with the journey. Under normal circumstances, carrying a dog for several kilometers would already be exhausting. In the chaos of war—amid freezing temperatures, air raid sirens, and constant fear—it seemed nearly impossible.

Yet Alisa did not hesitate. She lifted her dog into her arms and began walking.

For 17 kilometers, she carried him through cold, exhaustion, and uncertainty. When her strength began to fail, her husband took over. Together, they refused to abandon a companion who had shared their lives long before the war began. At a moment when survival often demands ruthless decisions, they chose compassion.

This decision stands in stark contrast to the harsh realities of war, where people are often forced to prioritize speed, efficiency, and personal safety above all else. According to humanitarian organizations, war displacements frequently result in the separation of families—not only from relatives, but also from pets, which are often left behind due to logistical constraints or evacuation rules (UNHCR, 2022).

However, Alisa’s story reflects a broader pattern observed during the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Reports from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) documented thousands of Ukrainians refusing to evacuate without their animals, sometimes delaying their escape or traveling on foot rather than abandoning them. In response, several neighboring countries, including Poland and Romania, temporarily relaxed pet entry regulations to allow refugees to cross borders with their animals.

Psychologists note that pets provide emotional stability during crises, especially in situations involving trauma, displacement, and loss. Studies published in Frontiers in Psychology indicate that the human–animal bond can reduce stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation during emergencies. For many refugees, pets are not secondary concerns but integral members of the family, offering comfort when everything else is stripped away.

In the midst of war—when cities collapse, routines disappear, and survival becomes uncertain—acts of loyalty take on extraordinary meaning. Alisa’s decision was not a strategic calculation but a moral one. It was a quiet declaration that love does not disappear when circumstances become unbearable.

This is what loyalty looks like when everything else is falling apart: choosing care over convenience, responsibility over fear, and love over abandonment.

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Sources

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Ukraine Refugee Situation Report.

• International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Animals and the Ukraine Crisis.

• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Emergency Support for Animals Affected by the War in Ukraine.

• Frontiers in Psychology. The Role of Companion Animals in Human Psychological Resilience During Crises.

• BBC News. Ukraine War: Refugees Refuse to Leave Pets Behind.