The war in Ukraine has upended the lives of millions of people. It's also

disrupted the lives of an untold number of animals, both pets and zoo animals.

Some were left for days without food or water, traumatized by the sounds of war.

Next Wednesday's episode of PBS's nature is called saving the animals of Ukraine.

It tells how war-torn Ukrainians are reclaiming a bit of their humanity by rescuing animals.

Earlier I spoke with the director Anton Petushkin about how the film came about.

It was February 2022 and it was just the beginning of the full scale invasion from Russia

side and you know there was a vast majority of photos and videos with people from Ukraine trying to save themselves and their animals

and we were so moved by this footage you know because it was some kind of light of hope

amidst this dark time so we decided to just develop this topic and eventually you know

Made a documentary you show us a lot of stories about many animals, some of them very tragic, some of them happier.

One of the happier ones is about the Jack Russell Terrier named Patron.

Started out as the pet for a young boy and now is actually serving his country in a way

enlisted into the war effort. Tell us about for Toronto what he's doing.

Basically he is sniffing the bombs and for me the story is like speaks speak volumes because patrol was just a

regular dog you know he just wants to play and just to walk but because he is father you know dog parent Michael he is a

colonel of engineer troops of Ukraine he is looking for the mine so that's why

Patron start looking for the mind so that's why patron start looking for the minds as well.

Eventually this don't become like a symbol of resilience of Ukraine and he become I believe for the

first time in history of himself he became like a good will

ambassador dog.

You also show us animals who have been severely traumatized.

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