We are not talking about the campaign of the Ukrainian state bodies aimed to mass killings of stray animals in the framework of Euro-2012 preparations.

The problem was exaggerated by mass media. The situations described in the International mass media are singular actions implemented by local authorities or individuals and not the common practices in Ukraine.

The situation when mobile crematoriums were used occurred only in several places of Luhansk region. There were also several cases of the poisoning of animals done mostly by groups or individuals who suffered from stray dogs’ aggression (so called doghunters).

In most cases these actions were implemented as a reaction to the numerous complaints from citizens who suffered from stray dogs’ aggression. A population of stray dogs is very numerous in the big cities in Ukraine. It amounts, for instance, to 30.000 in Kyiv, 20.000 in Kharkiv etc. According to the statistical reports, in 2011 stray animals attacked and injured about 3000 persons only in Kyiv. In other cities the amount of people injured by stray dogs is about 500-2000 persons per year.

According to the Ukrainian legislation killing of animals is a criminal offence. The Criminal Code of Ukraine (article 299) stipulates thatcruelty against animalsshall be punishable by a fine up to 50 tax-free minimum incomes, or imprisonment for a term up to six months. The same actions committed in the presence of a young child shall be punishable by a fine up to 200 tax-free minimum incomes, or imprisonment for a term up to two years.

In a reaction to separate actions of cruelty against animals The Prime-Minister of Ukraine M.Azarov requested the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine to take necessary measures to strengthen control on the humane treatment of stray animals and to punish individuals and organisations for cruel actions.

Immediately after the concerns of the Ukrainian and international community in November 2011 The Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine approached the Ukrainian local authorities to stop cruel behaviour towards the animals.

Ukrainian Government strives to solve the problem of the stray animals in a humane way in accordance with the Law of Ukraine on the protection of animals.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine has taken a decision to draw up a National programme to build a number of modern animal shelters according to the European standards in the big cities of Ukraine. This programme will be implemented in the cooperation with local authorities as well as withNGO’s.

Kyiv city administration also issued a programme for 2012-2016 on care, control of stray animals and regulation of their population by human methods.

The state budget of Ukraine for 2012 contains 30 mln. UAH (app. 2,8 mln. Euro) to solve the problem of stray dogs by humane methods: building shelters and sterilisation of animals.

This year three new large shelters will be opened in the big cities of Ukraine in addition to the existing ones.

On the 3d of February 2012 The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine has signed a Memorandum of cooperation with Vier Pfoten International. This document stipulates realization of joint programme on identification, sterilization of stray animals in the big cities of Ukraine as well as providing the cities with movable animal hospitals.

The Ukrainian Government will also consider the European experience in solving this problem. For instance there is a plan to strengthen the cooperation with NGO’s and to transfer some functions (for instance to manage shelters) from local bodies to animal protection organisations.