Veteran launches high-stakes animal rescue mission

A former Royal Marine commando has begun a high-stakes operation to save animals living near the front line in eastern Ukraine.

The mission for Paul "Pen" Farthing, from Dovercourt, Essex, involves 24-hour-round trips from Kramatorsk to a haven in Smila.

The 56-year-old said his team from charity Nowzad were "doing everything humanly possible" to save as many lives as they could.

Farthing made headlines in 2021 when, following UK and US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan, he helped to extract 67 Afghan people and about 150 animals from the conflict.

Russian forces have advanced to within 7km (4.3 miles) of Kramatorsk, according to a military general quoted by Reuters.

Farthing, who toured Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007, said it was "very likely" that some animals would be shot on-sight if the city was to fall.

"As I've said before, leaving them behind was never an option," said the veteran.

"We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure no animal is left to face that fate."

Along with vets Lachlan Campbell and Angela Stoop, Farthing has been evacuating animal shelters and rescue centres in the area.

This has involved dismantling a sanctuary that Nowzad established in 2023 and moving it west, while having to vaccinate animals against rabies.

The journey has been fraught with danger and damaged roads, making what used to be an eight-hour journey take 12 hours.

Despite the odds, the team completed their first trip on Monday.

Farthing said: "We did it in Afghanistan with Operation Ark in 2021; we are doing it now in Ukraine.

"If the tide turns and Kramatorsk remains safe, we will bring them home. But we can't and won't just sit back and wait to find out this time."

He added that while not entirely safe, Smila offered a "much-needed haven" for the animals.

Further trips have been planned over the weekend and into the following week, while Nowzad said it was fundraising for £50,000 to support its mission.

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