- December 14, 2025
- 1:38 pm
- Ukraine, Video
War rarely leaves room for quiet, human stories. The front line is a constant risk, the work of artillery, drones, and tension that does not subside day or night. But sometimes, it is there that episodes occur that unexpectedly remind us of what the struggle is all about. One such moment was captured on video, published by the Ukrainian military: five puppies were rescued from the front line in the Kharkiv region.
The operation was carried out by fighters of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia”. The video, published on December 11, 2025, quickly spread across Ukrainian and international media, becoming a rare example of how military technology is used not for destruction, but for rescue.
How it all began: barking on the front line
According to information provided by the unit’s press service to LIGA.net, the story began during preparations for combat work. The drone operators of the strike UAV unit “Yasni Ochi” were near their dugout when the drone operator with the call sign “Joystick” heard unusual sounds.
The barking was coming from about 400 meters away — from the direction of an abandoned dugout, around which a large number of anti-drone nets were stretched. In conditions of active hostilities, such a distance is already considered potentially dangerous, but the fighters decided to check the source of the sound.
Approaching closer, they discovered the first puppy, tangled in one of the nets. The animal could not get out on its own. It was carefully freed.
Rescue by hand: not one, but several
After rescuing the first puppy, the fighters heard whining literally ten meters away. There was a second one — it was tangled in the net even more. According to the operator “Joystick,” the net had tightened around the puppy so much that it pulled its eyes, and it could hardly move.
The fighters acted as carefully as possible to avoid causing additional harm to the animal. The second puppy was also freed by hand.
The story did not end there. A little further on, a third puppy appeared — completely dirty and wet. All the found animals were decided to be brought into the dugout to feed, warm, and protect them from the cold.
Later it became clear that there were more puppies. Two more appeared on the horizon. So the fighters realized: it was not about one or two animals, but a whole group of five, and they needed to decide what to do next.
The question of evacuation and the commander’s decision
When there were five puppies, the main question arose — how to deliver them to a safe zone. Keeping the animals on the front line was impossible.
As operator “Joystick” recounted, at that moment the commander reported that a delivery by a ground robotic complex (GRC) was planned for that day. Such a complex is usually used for logistics tasks — delivering cargo and returning equipment to the point of permanent deployment.
This decision was key. It was decided to use the ground drone not for search, but for evacuating the puppies to the rear.
Evacuation: carefully and without haste
In the evening, all five puppies were placed in two carriers and loaded into the ground robotic complex. The drone was performing a planned logistics mission and was returning to the point of permanent deployment.
Thus, the puppies safely left the front line.
The operation went without incidents — the animals reached the rear safe and sound.
What happened next
After arriving in the safe zone, the “Khartia” fighters set up a kennel for the puppies, fed them, and provided minimal care. Already the next morning, volunteers from the organization UAnimals, which is engaged in rescuing animals in the combat zone, arrived for the animals.
All five puppies were sterilized, examined by veterinarians, and declared healthy. According to operator “Joystick,” three dogs have already been adopted, while two temporarily remain with the fighters until permanent homes are found for them.
Why this story is important
At first glance, it may seem that this is just about rescuing animals. However, in the conditions of war, such episodes have a much deeper meaning.
Firstly, they show at what cost the human dimension of war is maintained. Ukrainian defenders make decisions every day that affect people’s lives. And at the same time, they find the strength not to pass by those who are weaker and completely defenseless.
Secondly, this story emphasizes how modern technologies in war can serve not only destruction but also salvation. Ground robotic complexes, created for logistics and evacuation, in this case, became a tool for a humane act.
And finally, such videos break the usual propaganda clichés. They show the Ukrainian army and the National Guard not as an abstract military machine, but as people who remain human even in the most difficult conditions.
Context: war and animals
During the full-scale war in Ukraine, thousands of cases of death and rescue of domestic and stray animals have been recorded. Volunteers regularly evacuate dogs and cats from areas of active fighting — from under Kharkiv, from Donbas, from frontline villages.
However, it is not always possible to do this safely. Therefore, the use of robotic platforms for evacuating animals is not just a touching episode, but a potentially important practice that can save more than one life.
What is known about the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia” Brigade
The 13th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia” is one of the most well-known and technologically advanced units of the NGU.
The brigade was formed during the full-scale war and operates mainly in the Kharkiv direction. Despite the fact that the National Guard is formally subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, brigades like “Khartia” fight on the front line alongside the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Khartia” is known for:
- active use of drones and ground robotic complexes;
- high autonomy of units;
- focus on mobility, reconnaissance, and modern approaches to combat;
- open communication with society — the brigade regularly publishes videos and reports on its work.
The story of rescuing the puppies is not an exception, but a logical continuation of the unit’s philosophy: careful attitude to life, even in wartime conditions, and the use of technology not only for protection but also for assistance.
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