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Ukrainian opera star turns home into cat sanctuary
Olena Starykova has received help from the U-Hearts Foundation to look after her cats.

The singer is helping pets left homeless by the war.

A star of Ukrainian opera has turned her home in Kharkiv into a cat sanctuary, providing shelter to abandoned animals in the war-torn country.

Olena Starykova, who is also a conservatory professor, started caring for stray cats a year before the Russian invasion, after a residential building collapsed across from her house. As former residents moved away, some of them left behind their cats, and Professor Starykova took them in.

When the war began in February 2022, the Kharkiv region became the site of heavy fighting, before Ukrainian forces eventually drove Russian forces away from the area.

The invasion caused massive disruption to normal life. The opera and ballet theatre in Kharkiv, where Professor Starykova performed in operas including La Traviata, was damaged by a rocket, and the number of cats being abandoned increased as people fled the fighting.

The singer responded by taking more cats into her home.

Professor Starykova said: “I arranged a separate enclosed area on my veranda, where now 20 cats reside. They are all special, and I appreciate each one of them! There's a little cat without eyes, and I'm his mother because I've been nurturing him since birth.”

Those caring for animals in Ukraine are being supported by organisations including U-Hearts Foundation. In June, the foundation sent 3,772kg of cat food and 10,800kg of dog food to the Kharkiv region, including 57kg for the cats in Professor Starykova’s care.

The foundation has been able to provide such support thanks to donations from around the world. Companies from the UK have given 62,082kg of pet food, 1,001 beds, mattresses, and other pet supplies, and 3,261 pet toys.

Anzhelika Babii, communications co-ordinator at U-Hearts, said: “I often interact with people like Olena, and each time I am deeply impressed by their bravery, compassion, and sincere desire to help animals, even when they themselves may be in danger.

“These stories also remind us that we must continuously support such volunteers and shelters, as the war in the country continues, and the number of pets in need of care keeps increasing.”

 

Image (C) U-Hearts Foundation

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.