Stepan, a senior Ukrainian kitty finds safety in France

April 5, 2022

Stepan is a senior Ukrainian rescue cat who had to flee his country and leave his loving home behind, accompanied by his mom, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began last February.

Stepan might as well be one the luckiest kitties among the thousands of cats that have been displaced from many Ukrainian cities; many of them had lost their families, were surrendered to shelters, or were found lost or injured amid the rubble on the streets of Lviv and Kyiv.

Days before the war started, Stepan was striking a pose for his Instagram followers who started to fear the worse when he would not post any pics for days.

Stepan striking a pose for his Instagram fans before the war. Image credit: loveyoustepan

Two weeks later, his mom took to the internet to tell Stepan’s fans that they had to flee the country and found safety in France.

Stepan on his way to safety in France. Image credit: loveyoustepan

One of the most moving pics his mom posted on Instagram shows Stepen underground hiding from shells tucked into his mom’s jacket …

Stepan tucked into his mom’s jacket. Image credit: loveyoustepan

and another one of Stepen looking out the window of the train that took them from Lviv to the Polish border.

Stepan on the train that took him and his mom to the Polish border.
Image credit: loveyoustepan

Stepan, who just turned 13 and was adopted off the street as a kitten, are among the thousands of Ukrainian pet refugees who were forced to leave their country to find safety in neighboring countries like Poland and Latvia.

Many international rescue groups are posting live updates on their efforts to rescue animals and get pet food where it’s needed. They are also driving animals from shelters and sanctuaries in Kharkiv into Poland.

Stepan and his mom Anna, were helped by the World Influencers and Bloggers Association when they arrived at the Polish border.

“They helped us get to France to wait for the very day when we could return home.” Anna said.

Based on the article stepan the cat at Bored Panda.