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Canadian Volunteer Who Saved Hundreds of Animals Killed by Russian FPV Drone in Ukraine
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Canadian volunteer Jesse Adams, who helped rescue animals and assist civilians in Ukraine, was killed in a Russian FPV drone attack while evacuating animals in the Donetsk region.
The incident was reported by the Ukrainian animal rescue organization Animal Rescue Kharkiv on October 27, whose volunteers had worked alongside Adams on evacuation missions.
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According to the organization, the attack occurred on October 25 as Adams was preparing to evacuate another group of animals from Kramatorsk. Shortly after the animals were loaded into his vehicle, a Russian FPV drone struck the windshield, leaving Adams with severe injuries.
He was immediately transported to a local hospital, where medical personnel performed resuscitation procedures and emergency surgery. Despite their efforts, Adams died from his injuries.
His Ukrainian colleagues said his work had helped save hundreds of animals.
“When someone travels halfway around the world to work shoulder to shoulder with you in some of the most difficult conditions, it means more than words can express. Thanks to Jesse, hundreds of animals are alive today,” the volunteers said.
Adams was the founder of RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, a Canadian organization dedicated to rescuing and rehoming animals. During his time in Ukraine, he participated in animal evacuation operations and provided assistance to residents of frontline communities affected by Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Just days before his death, Adams shared an Instagram post describing a rescue operation in Kramatorsk, where volunteers had managed to evacuate 80 dogs and cats in a single day.
In the post, he urged people not to forget the civilians and animals suffering from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“These poor animals do not understand war and are simply innocent victims of another country invading Ukraine. Each day more and more innocent civilians and animals are injured or killed by drones, bombs, and missile attacks,” Adams wrote.
He explained that some rescued animals had lost their owners, while others were being evacuated to reunite with their families in safer parts of Ukraine. Some were awaiting adoption, while stray animals continued struggling to survive amid widespread destruction.
“It breaks my heart that we even have to do this type of work, but it is my privilege and honor to be a small part of helping these animals reach a better life for themselves and their families, or to be adopted into new families,” he wrote.
Adams’ death comes amid the continuing impact of Russian attacks on animals and rescue facilities across Ukraine, with shelters and volunteers facing significant risks as they work to evacuate animals from affected areas.
In a separate incident, a Russian overnight attack struck the Loving Hearts animal shelter in Velykodolynske, Odesa region. According to the shelter’s statement, three dogs and 10 cats were killed in the strike, while the whereabouts and condition of other animals remained uncertain.
During the attack, the shelter’s owner managed to open the enclosures and release the animals, although it was unclear whether all of them had survived.
Overall, as of February 24, 2026, more than 6 million animals had died as a result of the full-scale war, while over 20% of Ukraine’s protected natural areas had been affected.
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-164cd2ce81b008081da0b59cb30a4967.jpg "Russian leader Vladimir Putin visits a rehabilitation center for Russian soldiers wounded during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Moscow on December 3, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)")
