Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center Releases Bats Rescued from War Zones
In Kyiv, Ukraine, the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center organized an event to release hundreds of bats that had been rescued from war-torn areas in the east of the country. The event, attended by over 1,000 spectators including families and off-duty soldiers, was held in a nature park on the edge of Kyiv. Volunteers released the bats into the twilight, providing a moment of joy and relief for attendees after a harsh winter marked by subzero temperatures and nightly Russian drone and missile attacks. The bats, which are on the red list of endangered animals, were released as part of multiple events around Ukraine to coincide with the arrival of spring. The rehabilitation center has rescued over 30,000 bats, including 4,000 last winter, as the war has displaced animals and destroyed their natural habitats. 
