Drone Strike Devastates Ukrainian Farm, Kills 13,000 Pigs

A Russian drone strike has triggered a catastrophic fire at a Ukrainian pig farm, leaving around 13,000 pigs dead in one of the most devastating animal losses of the ongoing war.

The incident occurred in the Novovodolazka settlement of Kharkiv region, where an unmanned aerial vehicle hit the sprawling facility.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed that eight adjoining stalls, covering more than 140,000 square feet, were set ablaze, collapsing under the inferno that consumed thousands of livestock overnight.

Horrific images shared by authorities revealed charred carcasses scattered through the blackened remains of metal frames and fallen roofs.

Officials also reported that one farm employee sustained injuries during the attack.

The tragedy adds to a disturbing record of assaults on animal facilities since the war’s escalation.

In September, a Russian missile destroyed parts of an equestrian club in Kyiv region, killing seven horses.

Earlier in the year, a strike on Odesa Zoo fatally wounded a ram, sparking outrage among animal rights defenders.

Observers note that while the destruction of homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure often dominates war coverage, animals too have become unintended casualties of conflict.

From zoos to rural farms, they are caught in bombardments with no means of escape.

The staggering loss at the Kharkiv farm has once again drawn attention from animal welfare organizations, who are urging the global community to consider the plight of animals in war zones.

Advocates argue that beyond the human suffering, the devastation of livestock and wildlife underscores a broader humanitarian and ecological crisis unfolding in Ukraine.