KYIV, May 9 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presented Ukraine's famous mine sniffing dog Patron and his owner with a medal on Sunday to recognise their dedicated service since Russia's invasion.
The pint-size Jack Russell terrier has been credited with detecting more than 200 explosives and preventing their detonation since the start of the war on Feb. 24, quickly becoming a canine symbol of Ukrainian patriotism.
1/2 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy award service dog "Patron" during a news conference, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine May 8, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS Read More
Zelenskiy made the award at a news conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Patron barked and wagged his tail, prompting laughter from the audience. Trudeau patted his pockets as though looking for a dog treat.
"Today, 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," Zelenskiy said in a statement after the ceremony.
The award also went to Patron's owner, a major in the Civil Protection Service, Myhailo Iliev.
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Reporting by Tom Balmforth in Kyiv and by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Lviv; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Daniel Wallis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Fit-Somewhere1827 on May 9th, 2022 at 10:24 UTC »
And then Patron fell asleep at the press conference afterwards sitting at the table. It was funny.
Picture-unrelated on May 9th, 2022 at 09:18 UTC »
Good job doggie
Foreign-Engine8678 on May 9th, 2022 at 08:50 UTC »
The name Patron is not English. That's Ukrainian word for Bullet/Ammo