During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 61-year-old Igor Pedin refused to go anywhere without his nine-year-old Terrier mix named Zhu-Zhu. Man and his dog in Mariupol, now a Russian-controlled area in southeastern Ukraine. He has family in Zaporizhzhia, a city controlled by Ukraine, about 225 kilometers (140 miles) away.
Despite the risk, Pedin knows he must get himself and Zhu-Zhu to safety. The only way he could get there was by foot, so he planned a long and dangerous journey. To succeed, he must try to become “invisible” to avoid the Russians.
Not safe in Mariupol
When the Russian army took Mariupol, they started going door to door and shooting people one by one. So no matter how hard it is, Pedin knows he has to get out of there. He packed his things, carefully choosing the necessary items to be as light as possible. He and Zhu-Zhu then begin their journey, acting as “ghosts”.
Pedin left little in Mariupol because food and water were scarce and corpses piled up in the streets. However, there was a long stretch of Russian-controlled territory ahead, so he and Zhu-Zhu had to be cautious. They must avoid mines and Russian soldiers, as well as overcome many grieving families along the way.
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“I look like a tramp to them, I am nothing. I am dirty and covered with dust, for my house has been covered with a smoke. I walked out of the city by this highway and at the top, I turned around. I looked back at the city and said to myself, it was the right decision. I said goodbye. There was an explosion. I turned around and walked on,” said Pedin.
His first stop was in the town of Nikolske, 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away. A man who had just lost his son left Pedin and Zhu-Zhu with him.
140 miles journey
During each stop, Pedin stayed only a short time. He always wakes up early and in the morning to continue his journey. He had to confront Russian soldiers in Nikolske and Rozivka. So he’s not quite as invisible as he’d hoped. But fortunately, after being thoroughly interrogated, Pedin and Zhu-Zhu were able to continue their journey, despite being exhausted.
However, when Pedin finally reaches an area that has not been taken over by Russian soldiers, he faces his biggest obstacle. The road bridge to Zaporizhzhia was destroyed, leaving a drop of 30 meters (98 feet). The narrow metal frame of the bridge is still intact, so Pedin tries to find a way to cross it. He tied Zhu-Zhu and his bag and tried to cross it alone to make sure it was safe. Then, feeling confident, he turned around and carried his bag and walked past Zhu-Zhu.
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The Ukrainian soldiers on the other side were surprised to see that Pedin had crossed the bridge. However, he could not ride to Zaporizhzhia with his dog. So he and Zhu-Zhu have to walk across the hills to reach their destination. At that point, Zhu-Zhu was so exhausted that she could barely walk.
“The dog cannot continue. I had to walk up the street with my bag, then come back to pick her up and pick her up. I said, ‘If you don’t walk, we’ll both die, you have to walk.’ She walked up the next hill,” said Pedin.
Zhu-Zhu struggles to adjust
As Pedin and Zhu-Zhu were walking, a truck stopped to take them the rest of the way. They arrived at a tent full of volunteers, and when a woman asked where they were from, she was shocked to learn they were walking distance from Mariupol.
Now, Pedin is relying on his parents for protection, but he worries about Zhu-Zhu. The dog’s paws were badly scratched from the long walk, and now he has become more sensitive to loud sounds after witnessing so many bombings. Pedin hopes to find a vet to check on the dog, but he doesn’t know how he will be able to pay for Zhu-Zhu’s medical care.
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“She was very frightened by the whistling sound. For example, when a bus passes and the brakes squeak. She was afraid of it because the sound reminded her of the hiss of the bombs that had flown and exploded then in Mariupol. And then she was afraid of the sound of military planes in Mariupol. Who dropped bombs. So she’s still scared of these sounds,” says Pedin.
Pedin and Zhu-Zhu had to recover a lot both mentally and physically. But for now, they are safe from the bombings near Mariupol, and they are lucky to have each other. Pedin clearly cares about his dog and he will continue to make sure she stays safe.
Featured pictures: Facebook
