Ukrainian Volunteers Walk 11 km Under Fire to Rescue Teenager, Elderly Man and Pregnant Dog in Donetsk

Two Ukrainian volunteers walked more than 11 kilometers on foot to rescue 13-year-old Liuba, her pregnant dog, and an elderly neighbor from the city of Rodynske in the Donetsk region. The three had been sheltering in the basement of a destroyed house, while the girl’s parents had been missing for over a week.

The story was shared by volunteer Diana Yakovleva and chaplain Leonid Nomarchuk on November 12, who thanked another volunteer with nickname Wes Miller and Mykhailo Bochkov for their courage and determination in saving both people and the dog.

“The guys walked over 11 kilometers one way—through tree lines, across open fields, under the constant hum of drones and shelling. They spent the night in an abandoned building in Rodynske,” Yakovleva wrote.

According to Wes Miller, the shelling was so intense that at one point, the volunteers feared they wouldn’t make it out alive. In a video shared with hromadske, he said the rescue was extremely difficult—and that if the attacks had been as heavy as the day before, neither the girl, the man, nor the dog would have survived.

The rescued child, Liuba, is 13 years old. Her parents have been missing for more than a week.

“They went to check on a woman they knew who hadn’t been in touch for a long time. First, Liuba’s mother went with a neighbor, but they didn’t come back. Then her father went with a friend—and they also didn’t return,” Yakovleva explained.

Before leaving to search for his wife, Liuba’s father asked their neighbor, Vasyl, to look after the girl.

“Three days ago they turned on a generator so the girl could at least wash a little. Night fell, and the shelling began. The wall of the room where Liuba was sleeping collapsed right on top of her. Vasyl ran inside, started pulling her out from under the debris, shouting, ‘Liuba? Can you feel your arms? Your legs?’ Fortunately, she’s okay—she only has minor injuries,” the volunteer said.

For several days, Liuba and Vasyl stayed in the basement, occasionally going upstairs to gather a few belongings in case someone came to evacuate them. Vasyl later admitted he didn’t really believe help would come—the situation outside was too dangerous.
Still, two volunteers decided to take the risk and evacuate Vasyl, Liuba, and her pregnant dog Lola, who is expected to give birth to puppies soon.

“There were many more details that make your blood run cold. Some of them I simply have no right to share. We talked for a long time with Vasyl. He said, ‘I just want to cry it all out.’ And Liuba—she is the most wonderful, the brightest girl. We will definitely find a way to support her further,” Yakovleva added.

Earlier, Ukrainian paratroopers carried out a successful rescue operation, evacuating 10 civilians as forces advanced and cleared the recently liberated village of Kucheriv Yar in the Dobropillia sector of the Donetsk region.

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