Who is Patron, Ukraine’s demining service dog honoured by Zelensky

From civilians to ghost fighter pilots, Ukraine’s fight against Russia has birthed several heroes. One such war hero is Patron, a four-legged Jack Russell terrier mix who has been on a mission to detect and uncover explosives in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv.

Working alongside bomb squads and teams like the State Emergency Service, the service dog has detected over 150 munitions since the war began on February 24. 

Lauding his unwavering loyalty, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky felicitated Patron and his owner, Myhailo Iliev, with an award for “Dedicated Service” during a ceremony held on Sunday. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was one of the attendees of the event, seemed to dig deep into his pockets for treats for the country’s most popular dog, according to CNN. 

Despite being in the limelight on multiple occasions, Patron has always kept a stoic demeanor, apathetic to the fame his work has produced. 

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A widely circulated video features the service dog at work, sniffing to locate explosives, with a Ukrainian soldier who is seen carrying a metal detector. 

Last week, Ukraine’s foreign ministry thanked the 2-year-old canine hero on Twitter.  

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“Patron is a service dog in Chernihiv. He has discovered over 150 explosive devices in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion began. Patron works closely with deminers to make Ukrainian cities safe again. Thank you so much for your service,” the ministry wrote in the tweet that had a picture of Patron. 

Apart from the devastation, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought its fair share of inspiring heroes and encouraging stories, that continue to instill faith and hope in times of great suffering.