Ukrainian Border Guard Pauses Patrol to Save an Injured Owl in Zakarpattia Region, Video

Border guard Oleh, who operates under the call sign “Ratatouille” and serves in a combat unit of the Mukachevo Border Guard Detachment, is currently on rotation in the Zakarpattia region. During his service, he successfully rescued a distressed owl.

According to State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on November 10, the serviceman is deployed within the jurisdiction of the Velykyi Bychkiv section, which is responsible for maintaining security along the Ukrainian-Romanian state border. While returning after a patrol assignment, Oleh observed an unresponsive owl near the roadside, which failed to react to the presence of the approaching official vehicle.

The border guard requested the driver to stop in order to ascertain the condition of the bird. Initially, Oleh suspected the owl had caught prey, but closer examination revealed blood above its eye. The creature was noticeably lethargic and appeared completely disoriented.

Through a contact associated with the UAnimals volunteer organization, the border guard sought the expertise of the respected ornithologist Andrii Borodiy. The specialist confirmed that such trauma frequently occurs during nocturnal flight, often resulting from collisions with vehicle mirrors or windows. Following expert advice on providing subsequent care, Oleh procured essential medications and administered treatment to the wound, an action critical to preventing fatal septic infection.

The owl is presently under continuous supervision. Oleh and the team assisting him have named the bird Andrii, and they continue to provide dedicated care to ensure the full recovery of their charge.

Earlier, an owl was documented taking down a Russian quadcopter drone in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.

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