Partnerships

Problem Description

Since 2019, we have been consistently implementing our social mission – to change attitudes toward animals in Eastern Europe, so that dogs and cats are perceived not as property, but as full members of the family.
Back in 2014, following the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, the company launched the nationwide initiative “Don’t Leave Us in the ATO” to help animals trapped in the conflict zone.
Over two years, we delivered more than 30 tons of pet food to 17 cities across the Donetsk region – for shelters, military dogs, and animals rescued from occupied territories. Each shipment was accompanied by a public report, laying the foundation for our systematic and transparent approach to aid.

When the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the company already had experience working under crisis conditions and understood that animals would once again be left without protection.
Shelters, veterinary clinics, and families with pets were caught in the crossfire. Volunteer communities across the country faced a critical shortage of food, medicine, transport, and logistics.
For Kormotech, this was not a “foreign” problem. Supporting animals is part of our corporate culture and mission.
Therefore, the company decided to act immediately – to unite resources, the team, and partners to create a nationwide system of assistance for animals.

Solution

In the first weeks of the full-scale war, the Kormotech team initiated the creation of a rescue headquarters for stray animals – Save Pets of Ukraine (now the NGO U-Hearts Ukraine).
More than 40 company employees joined the initiative on a volunteer basis. The company donated 260 tons of its own cat and dog food to supply shelters, evacuated pet owners, and volunteers across the country.
A dedicated website was launched, processing around 20,000 requests, and together with Ukrainian and international partners, approximately ₴45 million in aid was raised.

The initiative quickly outgrew the framework of an internal project – becoming a shared platform for business, civil society, and international partners.
In April 2022, Save Pets of Ukraine began operating independently under the umbrella of the NGO U-Hearts Ukraine.
Since then, U-Hearts has evolved into a national aid platform, with Kormotech as a strategic partner providing expertise, communication, and program sustainability.
The company took on the commitment to be the voice of the issue globally – telling the world about Ukraine’s animals at international exhibitions, in industry media, and within professional communities.
Since 2022, every international event featuring Kormotech has included a U-Hearts project booth, informing attendees about the situation in Ukraine and inviting partners to join the cause.

As part of the initiative, Kormotech also created two charity books of real stories:

• “Saving Four-Legged (and Human) Lives in Ukraine” – about rescuing animals during the first months of the war.

• “Saving Four-Legged (and Human) Lives in Kherson Region” – about the heroes who saved animals after the Kakhovka Dam disaster.

Both publications are based on real accounts of volunteers and have been translated into multiple languages – serving as both a record of witness and an act of gratitude.

“This project proves that true strength is born in partnership. Together, we created a system that not only saves animals but also transforms the culture of how we treat them.” – Ruslan Hrytsan, Head of NGO U-Hearts Ukraine

Results

In three and a half years, we have transformed a grassroots rescue initiative into a powerful national project – U-Hearts (formerly Save Pets of Ukraine).
By uniting business, civil society, volunteers, and international partners, we built a system that not only responds to crises but also develops sustainable solutions in animal welfare, supports shelters, and fosters a new culture of coexistence between people and animals.

Humanitarian Aid

• Over 2,000,000 kg of pet food distributed to shelters and volunteer centers nationwide.

• Around 300,000 animals rescued thanks to the joint efforts of volunteers, businesses, and partners.
• Since the start of the full-scale war, through the joint efforts of Kormotech and the U-Hearts Ukraine NGO (formerly Save Pets of Ukraine), more than €7.5 million has been mobilized to help animals in Ukraine – from the company itself, its partners, international donors, and philanthropists.

• Over 21,000 vaccinations for cats and dogs administered.

• Support provided for 11 sterilization and 7 humanitarian missions across various regions of Ukraine.

Research and Analytics

In 2023, we conducted the first nationwide study on the state of shelters and animal welfare communities during the war, including a full animal census and assessment of key needs.
In 2025, we are launching the second wave of research to track progress, adoption trends, and the evolution of Ukraine’s animal welfare culture over the past decade.

Educational and Media Initiatives

Together, we launched the national journalism competition “Spivprostir”, which supports independent media and amplifies the voice of humanity in journalism.
We created the children’s educational project “Vuso-Lapo-Kids”, helping the next generation grow up with values of compassion and responsibility.
In 2025, we became co-founders of the First National Animal Welfare Forum “Zoosvidomi”, which brought together business, government, animal rights defenders, and journalists for a joint dialogue on the future of animal welfare in Ukraine.

Together with the U-Hearts team, we built a unique ecosystem of cooperation – where care itself has become an infrastructure: from humanitarian aid to education, from rescue to cultural transformation.
This project has proven that partnership is the most effective form of rescue, where every contribution matters – and together, we build a system that works for the future.