Searching for a person while being hunted by an enemy drone—this is the daily superpower of Donetsk region police officers and their four-legged partners. On the Day of the Canine Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, we remember those who risk their lives to help people near the front lines.
The Russians control the skies, so camouflage skills and countering enemy drones have become an integral part of a dog handler’s work in war. Now every tracking mission is an extreme route, and the service dog is a combat comrade.
A keen sense of smell and unconditional mutual trust allow them to carry out the most difficult tasks. For example, Alan, a Belgian Malinois, located a missing woman in 7 minutes, saving her from certain death. In another instance, the dog followed a trail for an hour and a half despite FPV drones flying overhead.
The service dogs of the K-9 Center of the Main Department of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast distinguished themselves most notably during the investigation of a police officer’s murder in Sloviansk. K-9 handler Yegor Geledchak and his Labrador, Ira, located the weapon that the assailant had stolen from the victim. Meanwhile, the German Shepherd Boniface, accompanied by handler Roman Zayets, covered 4 kilometers under fire and led the arrest team to the location where the suspect was hiding.
Results of the work of the dog handlers and their dogs for 2025 and part of 2026:
- helped solve 82 crimes, including three murders;
- located 7 missing persons;
- seized over 900 firearms;
- conducted 636 anti-drug operations, resulting in the seizure of over 2 kg of drugs;
- responded to 38 bomb threats;
- were called upon 11 times to search for victims trapped under rubble.
Based on materials from the Main Directorate of the National Police in Donetsk Oblast