No one gets left behind... not even the pet goldfish

CLUTCHING their precious cargo, animal lovers in Ukraine rush to protect their beloved pets, ferrying them to safe-haven countries across the border.

One man carries an assault rifle over his shoulder and a cat and exotic fish in his hands as he saves them from a shell-damaged building in Kyiv.

Even the country’s police officers leapt into action to rescue two parrots from the ruins of another block of Kyiv flats hit by Russian shells.

In the city of Lviv, 43 miles from the Polish border in Western Ukraine, evacuees ditched their suitcases for dogs and cats as they took their pets to safety in carriers.

One woman made sure her Yorkshire terrier was warm as she wrapped the pet up in a pink jacket. The neighbouring countries of Poland, Romania and Slovakia are all allowing fleeing Ukrainians to bring their beloved animals across borders without vet paperwork.

Romanian animal rescue charity Casa Lui Patrocle, which is based in the city of Suceava, around 25 miles from the Ukraine border, vowed to help families fleeing with their pets, writing in a Facebook post that it would provide veterinary assistance to anyone who entered the country.

The organisation said it would help treat ‘any type of animal’.

DON’T SPILL: Negotiating a cordon with a cat in its carrier, fish in its tank... and assault rifle on his shoulder

DOGS OF WAR: One woman wraps her terrier in pink jacket and, right, a refugee escapes with his dog and cat

TAKING FLIGHT: Police save a parrot from a shell-damaged building in Kyiv