Ukrainian Man and Kitten Rescued from Ravine During Escape from Draft

Vladislav Duda and his kitten Peach survived subzero temperatures in the Carpathian Mountains before being rescued by Romanian authorities.

Vladislav Duda, a 28-year-old Ukrainian journalist, fled his home in Kharkiv to avoid military conscription and became stranded in a 400-meter-deep ravine in Romania's Carpathian Mountains.
Rescuers found Duda suffering from severe hypothermia, with his kitten Peach providing warmth and companionship during the ordeal in subzero temperatures.
A helicopter rescue was initially attempted but abandoned due to poor weather, leading rescuers to traverse through deep snow on foot during a blizzard to save Duda and his kitten.
Duda credited Peach with keeping him alive, saying the kitten gave him warmth and hope as he melted snow for water after running out of food days earlier.
Romanian authorities have rescued over 160 Ukrainian men fleeing conscription through the mountains since 2022, with 16 others tragically found deceased in similar circumstances.