Russian Troops' Karma?… Ukrainian Goat Steps on a 'Bang' Booby Trap

Foreign media reported that a Ukrainian goat stepped on explosives, injuring dozens of Russian soldiers.
[Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the activities of animals caught in the midst of the war have become a hot topic. A detection dog has found hundreds of explosives, keeping citizens safe. Recently, it was also reported that Ukrainian goats stepped on explosives, injuring dozens of Russian soldiers.

According to recent reports from foreign media such as the UK Telegraph, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Agency stated that a goat that escaped from a farm in a village in Zaporizhzhia triggered Russian booby traps.

At the time, Russian forces had set up grenades and other explosives around nearby hospitals to create a defensive barrier against Ukrainian troops. Subsequently, goats that escaped from a nearby farm wandered around the area, triggering Russian booby traps, causing several grenades to explode in succession. It is reported that about 40 Russian soldiers were injured in these explosions. The survival status of the goats is unknown.

This is not the first case of animals playing a role in the Ukraine war. Previously, the detection dog Patron (2) gained attention for aiding Ukraine's resistance. Patron, whose name means 'ammunition box' in Ukrainian, is a small Jack Russell Terrier breed standing about 35cm tall.

Patron, a Jack Russell Terrier breed, is active as a detection dog on the northern front line of Chernihiv, Ukraine (2).
[Photo by Instagram capture]

Patron has been active since Russia's invasion, working on the northern front line in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, and is known to have detected over 200 mines so far. He reportedly began explosive detection training at six months old. He also participated in educating children in the northern areas near Kyiv, which were once occupied and then retaken from Russian forces, about the dangers of explosives.

For Patron's efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded him a merit medal in person on the 8th of last month (local time). At the award ceremony, President Zelensky said, "Patron is small but a very famous sapper of ours, entrusted with very important and urgent tasks to ensure the safety of Ukrainian children," expressing his gratitude.

Meanwhile, the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine is a strategic key point connecting Donbas and the Crimean Peninsula. Currently, Ukrainian forces control the city, but about 60% of the area is reported to be under Russian occupation. Amid fierce daily battles between the two countries, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed particular concern about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. According to CNN, Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General, stated in a press release on the 24th, "The situation under Russian control is very concerning," adding, "Under these circumstances, the proper maintenance of a major nuclear power plant cannot be ensured."