Patron, a two-year-old Jack Russell Terrier is now a war hero as he has successfully discovered 150 explosives. Here’s all you need to know about the war hero.
Patron: The bomb-sniffing hero
On Monday, the Ukrainian foreign ministry took to Twitter to thank a valuable four-legged member of the Ukrainian armed forces- Patron. The service dog has been successful in identifying over 150 explosive devices in Chernihiv, since the beginning of Russia’s invasion. “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,” tweeted the ministry.
Patron is Ukrainian for ‘bullet cartridge’. The service dog has been helping in the northern city that has been under siege by Russian military forces. The Russian army was pummeling the residents with airstrikes and rides before withdrawing in early April. Several videos show Patron, a small dog wearing a protective vest and walking around sniffing the dirt. The dog has been seeking out shells and mines left behind by the Russians.
More on the heroic service dog
Patron is nothing short of a hero for Ukrainians and several across the world. People are taking to social media to share fan art and memes of the little Jack Russell Terrier. They are seen depicting Patron in his trademark vest. “It motivates not to give up no matter how hard it is, to keep the bar high and to fight with new strength, knowing how many people are still waiting for help and how many people believe in us,” stated the service. They also shared a compilation of fan arts praising the dog.
While Ukraine has several such service dogs, the nation’s State Emergency Service (SES) is describing Patron as the mascot of Ukraine’s Chernihiv sapper squad. “Our Patron keeps his paws busy and is thankful to every one of you. Great heroes come in all sizes. Keep true to yourselves, trust in our defenders, in our victory,” stated the SES in March. “One day, Patron’s story will be turned into a film, but for now, he is faithfully performing his professional duties,” added Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications.
