New Delhi: Ukraine has given a medal to its mine-sniffing dog Patron for his services since the Russian invasion in February. The Jack Russell terrier reportedly helped minesweepers find more than 200 explosive devices during these two and a half months.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky honoured the two-and-a-half-year-old at a ceremony in Kyiv Sunday, which was also attended by visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, BBC reported.
The canine has become something of a national hero, a symbol of Ukraine's resistance against Russia.
"I want to award those Ukrainian heroes who are already clearing our land of mines. And together with our heroes - a wonderful little sapper Patron who helps not only to neutralize explosives, but also to teach our children the necessary safety rules in areas where there is a mine threat," Zelensky was quoted as saying at the Sunday event.
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Patron and his owner Myhailo Iliev were both presented with their medals. Trudeau could be seen patting his pockets as if he was looking for dog treats, the BBC report said. He announced that Canada would send more weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
Patron means “ammo” in Ukrainian, and acts as a mascot of Ukraine’s state emergency service, according to a report in The Guardian. He sniffs out Russian mines and explosives in the Chernihiv city, and regularly features in videos on official Ukrainian social media handles.