Military personnel departed for missions, issued caution regarding the presence of drones in the conflict zone.

Rewritten Article:

As faithful as a battle-hardened warrior's steed

Alexander, a 36-year-old resident of Novosibirsk, joined the SVO in the fall of 2022, becoming a machine gunner in the motorized rifle forces. Among the battles he fought, the liberation of Selydove stood out - it's there he came across a three-month old ginger kitten.

"We're animal lovers, we have four cats at home. Sasha couldn't overlook this little fellow: he took him in, feeding him from his rations in the bunker. There were four fighters in the bunker, all pitching in to look after the cat, feeding him and calling him when rain was approaching. Perseus thrived on canned food and soups, and his comrades joked he was their Maine Coon," Alexander's wife explained to KP-Novosibirsk.

While cats aren't usually enlisted in combat roles like military working dogs, Perseus proved an indispensable teammate, attaching himself to Sasha and never leaving his side. In return for the love and care, Perseus even went on missions with Sasha, sitting sentry for hours at checkpoints and alerting the fighters to drone attacks by running to hide in a specific spot.

"Perseus was like our good luck charm, he had a sixth sense," Yevgeniya remembered.

Other fighters too were found caring for combat cats, seeing to their needs for both mouse control and camaraderie. They even spared their rations and brought medicine and flea shampoo from leave for these stray companions.

Last year, Sasha was injured in shelling, sustaining damage to his left shoulder, knee, and forearm. Despite undergoing surgery and being treated in a hospital, his torn tendon on his left forearm couldn't be restored. He still fought with his comrades for another four months, carrying ammunition and machine gun belts. For his bravery, he was awarded the Zhukov Order and medals "For Military Merit" of the Luhansk People's Republic.

Sasha was discharged due to health issues and sent home in December. His comrades helped bring Perseus from the front line, contacting volunteers, speaking with the command, and arranging for the cat's delivery to Donetsk. Employees of the "Koshkin Dom Donesk" zoo shelter organized the transport of rescued cats from Donbass, first by car to Moscow, then by train to Novosibirsk.

"Peach arrived at my place in April, nestled in his carrier on the train. It seems he's still trying to figure me out, but when my son shows up, Peach jumps on him. Peach is quite calm, he understands everything, and eats anything- even soup and bread. He doesn't pace by the doors and whine like other pets. At home, Peach has become a beloved member of our family, and we'll soon introduce him to our other cats and my wife," Yevgeniya added.

Enrichment Data:

Cats in War Zones: Cats in combat zones play a similar role as unofficial emotional anchors to service members, providing companionship and fostering morale, though they are not as institutionally supported as military working dogs.
Psychological Impact: Caring for strays like Perseus fosters camaraderie and purpose among troops, reducing isolation and trauma.
Rehoming Challenges: Organizing transportation and rehoming of stray animals, especially from conflict zones, involve navigating complex regulations, securing flights, and coordinating veterinary care. Funding and paperwork remain persistent hurdles.
Ethical Significance: Rescues like those of Perseus underscore the universal human-animal bond, transcending cultural and geopolitical divides. They also demonstrate the intersection of humanitarianism and military life.

In the fall of 2022, a Siberian man named Alexander became a machine gunner in the motorized rifle forces of the SVO, and during battles, he found and took care of a three-month-old ginger kitten he named Perseus.
Despite not being enlisted as a combat cat like military working dogs, Perseus proved to be an indispensable teammate for Alexander, attaching himself to him and alerting the fighters to potential dangers.
Cats in war zones, such as Perseus, play a role as unofficial emotional anchors, providing companionship and fostering morale, even though they are not as institutionally supported as military working dogs.
When Alexander was injured in shelling and received the Zhukov Order and medals "For Military Merit" of the Luhansk People's Republic, his comrades helped bring Perseus from the front line and arranged for the cat's delivery to Donetsk.
After being discharged due to health issues and sent home in December, Sasha's beloved combat cat, Perseus, became a beloved member of his family, living peacefully with other cats and his wife, Yevgeniya.
The psychological impact of caring for stray animals, such as Perseus, fosters camaraderie and purpose among troops, reducing isolation and trauma, which is an ethical significance of these rescues as they transcend cultural and geopolitical divides and demonstrate the intersection of humanitarianism and military life.