Ukraine's rescue dogs save 73 people, find 711 explosives since war start

This was reported by Espreso correspondent Nataliya Starepravo.  

During a briefing, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine's spokesperson Oleksandr Khorunzhyi stated that since the beginning of the invasion, canine units have been deployed 812 times for various operations, rescuing 73 people.  

"Out of these, 377 deployments were for searching for people in destroyed buildings and natural environments, while 435 were for detecting explosive devices. A total of 73 people were rescued during search operations, and 711 explosive devices were neutralized during mine-search operations," Khorunzhyi noted.

He specified that the State Emergency Service of Ukraine operates 13 canine units, housing a total of 66 service dogs. Among them, 39 are search-and-rescue dogs, 9 are mine-detection dogs, 5 specialize in locating deceased individuals, 10 are in reserve, 1 is a breeding dog, and 2 are puppies.  

"We have 66 dogs in total, but each of them is 100% capable of finding a person or an explosive device. We conduct annual certification, and if a dog fails to pass—meaning it does not find a person during training—it is not allowed to participate in search operations. Afterward, an investigation is conducted, and the dog has three attempts to prove that any failure was due to temporary issues," explained Yuliia Secheyko, an instructor for rescue units at the Interregional Rapid Response Center.

She clarified that dogs experience sadness and stress if they realize they were unable to complete their task, such as failing to find a person under the rubble.  

"There are cases when canine teams are deployed, but no living people are found under the debris. Naturally, the dog becomes disappointed. It thinks it didn’t do its job properly, perhaps missing an area. It’s difficult for a dog to understand why the search was unsuccessful. Stress manifests differently in dogs—some slow down their work, others pant more, and some seek shade. A handler who knows and understands their dog can observe these signs. According to protocol, we work for 30 minutes, then allow the dog to rest for 10-15 minutes before continuing. After a mission, every handler ensures their dog gets proper rest, whether it’s through long walks, playing with their favorite toy, or simply being left alone if that’s what they need," emphasized Yuliia Secheyko.  

Yevhen Sholudko, a canine sapper at the Interregional Rapid Response Center, who works with a Belgian Shepherd named Alf, shared that his dog is trained to detect explosive devices in agricultural fields. The dog's skills are continuously refined, as it operates in challenging conditions, searching for specific and hazardous substances.

"The dog must be stress-resistant. That’s why during training, we use sounds of explosions and gunshots to ensure the dog is accustomed to them. Additionally, after each return from work, the animal is examined by a veterinarian," Sholudko shared.  

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, there have been no cases of dogs dying while performing their tasks.