As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to take a deadly toll and drive residents out of the country, the Cat Cafe in Lviv is trying to keep its doors open.
The 6-year-old restaurant is home to 20 different cats. It’s a place for food, coffee and companionship. But now, it sits in the middle of a war zone.
Owner Serhii Oliinyk took to social media this week to update the precarious situation.
“Sorry for not posting so long, and for not having time to write to each of you personally, we don’t have a special person to do that right now!” he wrote. “In this difficult and dangerous time, we are among the few who work, and everyone has a lot of unusual work.”
Donations are coming in from all over the world via PayPay and being organized through a friend who now lives in Canada.
The café is pledging half of its donations will also go to the Ukrainian army, which, so far, is taking on Russian military might alone.
“Each of you personally not only bought food and peace for the cats, but also demonstrated the unity of nations in the fight against the aggressor!” the eatery’s Facebook post continued. “We pray for our soldiers!!!
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The cats come in all breeds and have lived at the café all their lives.
There’s no way their human family would leave them to fend for themselves — and the Oliinyks are confident the Ukrainian army will keep them all safe.
“It is now stronger than ever and will definitely defeat the enemy, but needs our and your support!” he wrote.
