Zelensky honours his dog of war
PAWS astride a Russian shell with a look of fearlessness in his eyes, he is every bit the noble war hero.
And this mine-sniffing terrier’s service has not gone unnoticed – having been awarded an honour by President Zelensky.
Patron, whose name means Bullet in English, is said to have saved countless lives after detecting more than 200 explosives and preventing their detonation since the start of the war.
The Jack Russell – whose owner Myhailo Iliev, a major in the Civil Protection Service, was also given the Medal For Military Service – has become something of a social media sensation in Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky beamed as he handed out the award at a news conference in Kyiv with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday. The terrier barked and wagged his tail as Mr Trudeau patted his pockets pretending to look for dog treats.
The Ukrainian leader told the audience: ‘Today, I want to award those Ukrainian heroes who are already clearing our land of mines.
‘And together with our heroes, a wonderful little sapper – Patron – who helps not only to neutralise explosives, but also to teach our children the necessary safety rules in areas where there is a mine threat’.