How the life of the most famous Jack Russell Terrier in Ukraine has changed since the full scale war broke out on 24 February.
According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES), around 30 per cent of the territory of Ukraine may potentially be mined as a result of hostilities. Explosive objects can be found in rivers, forests and fields, on the roadsides, in hospitals, in residential buildings and playgrounds, and even in children's toys.
To prevent injuries and deaths, SES rescuers in Chernihivska region teach young Ukrainians about the importance of following safety rules in case of a possible encounter with mines and shells. Today, they have a very famous assistant - Patron, a bomb-sniffing Jack Russell Terrier, who helps them during their official tasks.
Patron has quickly become a mascot for the SES, working together with sappers and pyrotechnics from Chernihiv to help find over 300 explosive objects. This year, he earned legions of fans, and was recently awarded a special title - Goodwill Dog - from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine for the first time in the history of the organization.