Anguish, Finger-Pointing After Strike On Kharkiv Zoo
- By EPA-EFE,
- Reuters and
- Amos Chapple
Debate has erupted online after several animals were killed in a Russian glide bomb strike on the Feldman Ecopark close to Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
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Two Kookaburra, a bird species native to Australia, being evacuated from a bomb-damaged aviary in the Feldman Ecopark. The private zoo near Kharkiv was hit by a Russian glide bomb on January 1.
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A bomb crater visible next to the aviary following the New Year's Day strike.
“The birds have died. If not all of them, then the majority," Oleksandr Feldman, the zoo's founder told local media following the strike. A 40-year-old volunteer at the park was hospitalized with head injuries.
“The birds have died. If not all of them, then the majority," Oleksandr Feldman, the zoo's founder told local media following the strike. A 40-year-old volunteer at the park was hospitalized with head injuries.
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A lion that was housed near where a glide bomb impacted at the ecopark.
Ivan Dostov, the head veterinarian at the zoo, told reporters his team was examining tigers and lions, who are "traumatized" but expected to survive after the attack. “It seems to me that their lives are not in danger,” he said.
Ivan Dostov, the head veterinarian at the zoo, told reporters his team was examining tigers and lions, who are "traumatized" but expected to survive after the attack. “It seems to me that their lives are not in danger,” he said.
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Birds being evacuated from the damaged aviary.
Feldman Ecopark is located north of Kharkiv, some 17 kilometers from Russian positions.
Feldman Ecopark is located north of Kharkiv, some 17 kilometers from Russian positions.
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A sign made from flowers at the ecopark, photographed in October 2021.
The park is one of the Kharkiv region's most popular attractions for its hundreds of animal species. It became a battleground in early 2022 as Russian forces approached and eventually captured the site.
The park is one of the Kharkiv region's most popular attractions for its hundreds of animal species. It became a battleground in early 2022 as Russian forces approached and eventually captured the site.
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Tapirs being evacuated from the Feldman Ecopark in 2022.
As Russian forces approached in early 2022, animals from the ecopark were evacuated under fire, an operation that is the subject of a 2024 documentary film.
As Russian forces approached in early 2022, animals from the ecopark were evacuated under fire, an operation that is the subject of a 2024 documentary film.
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A man carries a Trumpeter Hornbill, a species native to tropical South America, away from the blast site on January 1.
Since late 2022, the park's animals were being returned to the site, which reopened in June 2023 after months of restoration following the Russian occupation.
Since late 2022, the park's animals were being returned to the site, which reopened in June 2023 after months of restoration following the Russian occupation.
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In July 2024, there was a fire in the Feldman Ecopark, reportedly caused by falling debris from drones
In March 2025, two goats at the ecopark were killed in a strike from a Shahed kamikaze drone.
In March 2025, two goats at the ecopark were killed in a strike from a Shahed kamikaze drone.
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An employee rescues a peacock from the damaged aviary.
Zoo founder Feldman has repeatedly called for Ukrainian businesses to return to Kharkiv. "Patriotism is not just empathy, patriotism is action. Return home, create jobs, pay taxes," he said in a post made in October 2024.
Zoo founder Feldman has repeatedly called for Ukrainian businesses to return to Kharkiv. "Patriotism is not just empathy, patriotism is action. Return home, create jobs, pay taxes," he said in a post made in October 2024.
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A bird being taken out of its bomb-damaged aviary on January 1.
News of the latest strike on the site has sparked anger online, with critics saying the location of the zoo makes it an easy target for Russian strikes.
News of the latest strike on the site has sparked anger online, with critics saying the location of the zoo makes it an easy target for Russian strikes.
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The aftermath of the glide bomb strike on January 1.
One commenter reacted to the news of the strike on social media by asking, "What is your next move? Will you take the animals away until it's safe again?" adding, "Why does the park have to stay in business?"
One commenter reacted to the news of the strike on social media by asking, "What is your next move? Will you take the animals away until it's safe again?" adding, "Why does the park have to stay in business?"
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A tiger in the ecopark after the Russin strike.
Park staff declined to comment when reached by RFE/RL by phone on January 2.
Park staff declined to comment when reached by RFE/RL by phone on January 2.
