Animals

Aug. 21, 2023

The background to the creation of this work was the story told to me by eyewitnesses of this dramatic event. It impressed me.

Location: the village of Oleksandrivka in the Kherson region, which suffered greatly from shelling by the occupiers. Last summer, the destruction in the village was particularly severe. People hid from the shelling or left the dangerous area. Domestic animals that did not perish in the explosions set off to the neighboring village of Stanislav in search of people and rescue. Unmilked cows, birds, pigs, and everyone who was used to living near humans walked in such a "sanitary" column along the road. They were fleeing from fire and smoke but leaving behind red stains on their path. Those who were wounded clung to and held on to the healthy. Whoever managed, climbed on the back of the cow. They walked so that everyone would reach... the humans.

The residents of Stanislav village saw a horrifying sight early in the morning. There were many wounded unfamiliar animals in the center of the village, standing silently. Looking at people with empty eyes. Tears filled the faces of the bystanders, even though there were hardly any left during the war. Many of these animals had to be euthanized, as there was no way to help them anymore.
War...