Footage of a stray puppy protecting Ukrainian soldiers has gone viral after it was uploaded to YouTube in late February. Little Rambo was found on the street by a group of servicemen who decided to adopt the puppy as their newest recruit.
“We felt sorry for him. It was freezing outside,” the soldiers explain on camera. “We took him into our post, and he stayed with us.” While he may be dwarfed in the company of the rest of his regiment, Rambo is known as their ‘protector’ who alerts them to any signs that a stranger might be nearby.
Although Rambo might be able to offer little at this stage in the way of physical protection other than alerting his friends to potential danger, he is offering those around him something they feel is much more valuable - preserving morale and keeping spirits up.
- Victims of the war in Ukraine refuse to leave their beloved pets behind
- Ukrainian cat café vows to stay open to care for their feline friends
- George W. Bush says Vladimir Putin once ‘dissed’ his dog
But it won’t be long before Rambo is able to offer more, having already grown rapidly in the time the soldiers have had him. “He used to be so tiny he could fit in one hand,” explains one of the servicemen.
Rambo is part of a larger canine family who are helping give these Ukrainian soldiers something to smile about during some of their darkest days. The older dogs also offer support in other ways too, accompanying the soldiers on their missions and doing their best to keep them safe.
“The dogs, they come as guards, they help us. They react to sounds. Something that a human won’t hear, the dog will, they feel it.” As the war in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, one thing is clear - Rambo and his fellow canines are needed now more than ever.
