Dogs and War: What I saw in Ukraine (2025)
Dogs and War: What I saw in Ukraine (2025)
A Japanese filmaker's three-year journey in Ukraine, portraying the lives of animals and humans in war. "Through dogs' eyes, the truth of war/"
When Russia invaded in February 2022. Japanese director Akane Yamada travelled to the war zone to document an often-overlooked story - the fate of animals and the people who refuse to abandon them. Known for her work in disaster zones since Fukushima, Yamada witnessed animal welfare groups mobilising at the Polish border to help refugees and their pets, and followed Ukrainians who continued to adopt shelter animals amid the chaos. In Borodianka, near Kyiv, she uncovered the tragic deaths of shelter dogs left behind during occupation. Her three-year investigation led her deep into Ukraine's frontline regions, from flooded Kherson after the Kahkovka Dam's destruction to a children's hospital in Kyiv struck by a missile. Through the stories of people who refuse to abandon animals even amid the devastation of war, this documentary portrays the resilience and dignity of those who refuse to surrender to violence.

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Cast

Akane Yamada Akane Yamada As: Them self
Masahiro Higashide Masahiro Higashide As: Narrator
Viktor Kopach Viktor Kopach As: Animal-id.net Representative
Przemysław Malik Przemysław Malik As: Centaurus Foundation Shelter Manager, Poland
Olena Kolesnykova Olena Kolesnykova As: Representatives of Animal Protection Group "Hvostata Banda", Ukraine
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Storyline

When Russia invaded in February 2022. Japanese director Akane Yamada travelled to the war zone to document an often-overlooked story - the fate of animals and the people who refuse to abandon them. Known for her work in disaster zones since Fukushima, Yamada witnessed animal welfare groups mobilising at the Polish border to help refugees and their pets, and followed Ukrainians who continued to adopt shelter animals amid the chaos. In Borodianka, near Kyiv, she uncovered the tragic deaths of shelter dogs left behind during occupation. Her three-year investigation led her deep into Ukraine's frontline regions, from flooded Kherson after the Kahkovka Dam's destruction to a children's hospital in Kyiv struck by a missile. Through the stories of people who refuse to abandon animals even amid the devastation of war, this documentary portrays the resilience and dignity of those who refuse to surrender to violence.


Tagline: A Japanese filmaker's three-year journey in Ukraine, portraying the lives of animals and humans in war. "Through dogs' eyes, the truth of war/"
Certification: Unknown

Details

Genres: Documentary

Language: English, 日本語, Український

Release Date: 21 February 2025

Country: JP

Runtime: 109m

Company Credits

Company:

External Links

Cast

Akane Yamada

Akane Yamada

Them self

Masahiro Higashide

Masahiro Higashide

Narrator

Viktor Kopach

Viktor Kopach

Animal-id.net Representative

Przemysław Malik

Przemysław Malik

Centaurus Foundation Shelter Manager, Poland

Olena Kolesnykova

Olena Kolesnykova

Representatives of Animal Protection Group "Hvostata Banda", Ukraine

Anastasiia Onikova

Anastasiia Onikova

Representatives of Animal Protection Group "Hvostata Banda", Ukraine

Ira Samoilenko

Ira Samoilenko

Member of Animal Protection Group "Hvostata Banda", Ukraine

Representative of BREAKING THE CHAINS, UK

Representative of BREAKING THE CHAINS, UK

Tom Tommies

Directed By

Writing Credits

Production Crew

Not currently known.

Edited By

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Costume and Makeup

Not currently known.

Sound

Not currently known.

Visual Effects

Not currently known.

Camera

Not currently known.

Lighting

Not currently known.

Art Department

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Other Crew

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