Ukraine Begins Actively 'Mobilizing' Cats

Ukrainian soldiers have begun actively recruiting cats to the front lines to combat mice and rats that are biting them and damaging their equipment, reports Bild, citing interviewed soldiers from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

As the magazine explains, rodents have become a serious problem as they "disturb the soldiers’ sleep, bite into their sleeping bags, and consume everything in sight." Rats, snakes, and mice have "stormed" the trenches in the southern regions of the front.

The animals destroy helmets and damage communication wires, ruining food, medicine, clothing, and leather items. To combat the rodents and snakes, soldiers have started bringing cats with them. One of the fighters noted that a cat named Shyabyk was awarded a combat medal for “assistance to the soldiers.”