A cat and her four kittens stranded on the front lines in war-torn Ukraine didn’t have to claw their way to safety — they caught a ride aboard a specialized “Vampire” hexacopter drone in a daring mission dubbed “Operation Meow-Meow.”
Soldiers with Ukraine’s 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade traded combat for cat saving, airlifting the fuzzy five from danger to safety, reported the award-winning fighting unit.
“When different brigades showcase the work of heavy hexacopter drones like the Vampire, they’re usually doing night drops [of explosives], destroying armored vehicles, burning out dugouts or delivering supplies. But our story is completely different — it’s about rescue,” one soldier said.
The whiskered passengers were ferried from the front lines to safer territory, a journey of roughly 7.5 miles that required some purr-cision flying during the June 8 mission.
The drone pilot carefully transported the cats before depositing them safely out of harm’s way.
Sadly, not every animal has been so fortunate.
The nonstop devastation across Ukraine has left countless pets stranded. Many fleeing families have been forced to leave beloved companions behind when they couldn’t meet European Union requirements for vaccinations, microchips and rabies testing.
In response, Ukrainians have created shelters and rescue networks for displaced animals, while soldiers have made a habit of taking strays under their wing.
And soldiers on the front lines have rescued as many of the stranded and scared animals as possible.
According to UAnimals, one of Ukraine’s largest animal welfare organizations, more than 10,000 animals have been evacuated since the full-scale invasion began.
The rescued menagerie includes cats, dogs, tigers, camels, horses, cows, racoons, wolves, donkeys, porcupines, lemurs, sheep and even bees.
Cats, in particular, seem to be everywhere along the front.
They’re found prowling checkpoints, sheltering in bombed-out buildings and curling up beside wounded patients in makeshift medical facilities, always ready for a scratch behind the ears.
Ukraine’s determination to protect animals amid the chaos has earned widespread admiration.
“In the midst of the horror of war, our Heroes show true human kindness! Thank you,” one Facebook commenter wrote.
“Thank you on behalf of all the cats!” added another.
A third praised the sounders for “saving the little tails,” while anther summed it up simply, “Cats can sense good people.”