Blinded and broken, Sunny the owl becomes another casualty of Russia’s war
Sunny, a long-eared owl, was severely injured in a Russian drone attack in Ukraine, losing an eye and a wing. Rescued by a passerby, he is now recovering in Dnipro but faces a challenging future without the ability to fly or hunt. The ongoing war has had a devastating impact on Ukraine's bird population, with many species suffering from habitat loss and direct attacks.
- ▪Sunny the owl was injured in a Russian drone attack, resulting in the loss of an eye and a wing.
- ▪Veronica Konkova, a biologist, is caring for Sunny and has been rescuing wounded birds since 2015.
- ▪The war has significantly affected Ukraine's wildlife, leading to the death and displacement of many bird species.
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Veronica Konkova with Sunny at her home in Dnipro. The long-eared owl lost an eye and a wing in a Russian drone attack. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The GuardianView image in fullscreenVeronica Konkova with Sunny at her home in Dnipro. The long-eared owl lost an eye and a wing in a Russian drone attack. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The GuardianBirdsBlinded and broken, Sunny the owl becomes another casualty of Russia’s war Ukrainians lament appalling toll of fighting on their country’s bird populationLuke Harding in Dnipro. Photos and video by Alessio MamoWed 20 May 2026 06.49 EDTLast modified on Wed 20 May 2026 06.51 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleRussia sent kamikaze drones to attack the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia in February. They hit buildings and killed several people.
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