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Volunteers frantically evacuated animals from a zoo on the outskirts of war-torn Kyiv Wednesday amid shelling between Ukrainian and Russian fighters, according to wild photos.
The images show volunteers dragging a pony that had collapsed from stress onto a truck at a private zoo in the village of Yasnohorodka, roughly 25 miles from the capital city, which has been under siege by Russian invaders for weeks.
In another photo, a Ukrainian serviceman is seen trying to avoid being bitten by an ostrich as he wrangles the large, flightless bird — but the evacuation was halted by shelling before it was finished.
The zoo was nearly destroyed, and some animals died as enclosures caught on fire amid the fighting, according to the local news site
“Our [zoo] is almost destroyed and the situation in Yasnohorodka is very difficult. There are prolonged hostilities. Therefore, we have great difficulties in feeding and keeping the animals. We are trying to evacuate animals and ask all those who are not indifferent to [help],” the owner of the zoo told the outlet.
Thousands of animals have been trapped at zoos in the area for weeks as food supplies dwindle, and stress from bombs and gunfire wreak havoc on their health.
Russia on Tuesday vowed to “radically” reduce attacks around Kyiv and Chernihiv as a good-will gesture amid peace talks, but attacks reportedly continued near the capital city Wednesday.
With Post wires
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