Man Fleeing Ukraine War with Kitten Found Alive in Frigid Romania Mountains: "Peach Kept My Heart Warm"

[C0RI0LANUS]

Salvamont Maramures, a Romanian mountain rescue service, saved the two. Peach the cat peers from the jacket of its owner, Vladislav Duda (28). They were rescued from a deep mountain ravine in a state of severe hypothermia. (Photo: AP)

When the rescue team located and found the Ukrainian, they unzipped his jacket and discovered Peach snuggled up inside. Duda said: "I'm happy because my cat is alive. I got a chance from God for a new life. The happiest moment is because the cat is here with me."

The auburn-colored kitten, a tomcat named "Peach" in Ukrainian, was experiencing the effects of malnutrition after they ran out of food four days earlier and melted snow helped to keep him alive.

"Peach kept my heart warm and he kept my faith alive," the Ukrainian said.

“Peach” also means stove or oven.

During the complex ascent out of the ravine which took more than five hours, the Ukrainian would not let go of his kitten. He kept Peach clutched to his chest from the bottom to the top until he was put in the ambulance.

Duda requested the rescuers to 'Please take care of the cat.'"



Peach at the Animal Med vet clinic after being rescued along with its owner after three days in a deep mountain ravine in Baia Mare, Romania. (Photo: 9 Dec 2024, AP)

Peach received veterinary treatment in Baia Mare and is expected to fully recover.

Source:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-kitten-fleeing-ukraine-war-found-alive-romania-mountains/

[riversedge]

1. I am glad they both were found alive. The kitty most likely did help the man keep warm--or they

both kept each other warm.

[Emile]

2. This is literally a heartwarming story.

[C0RI0LANUS]

3. I saw what you did! Thanks for the pun.

[oasis]

4. Perfect story on which to start the day.

[C0RI0LANUS]

5. Cheers, oasis!

[tavernier]

6. For some strange reason I felt compelled

to wear my Ukraine shirt yesterday. I guess he or the kitty were putting out some powerful vibes. (I know, it probably happened days ago, but it takes vibes awhile to get clear across the ocean )

[Botany]

7. And Trump would turn over Mr. Duda and Peach to the Russians to be killed

We can not abandon these fine people.

[C0RI0LANUS]

9. Don Jr would hunt poor Peach!

[Hope22]

8. Very cool story! Thanks!

🧡💛🧡🧡💛

[malaise]

10. Beautiful

Rec

[Evolve Dammit]

11. Love happy endings.

[niyad]

12. Thank you forr this truly "heartwarming" start to my day.

[electric_blue68]

13. A wonderful good morning story! Ty

[harumph]

14. Heartwarming (I guess) Duda is still a draft dodger.

...and it's not like the Vietnam war where men were being sent uselessly to a strange land to fight a foreign war.
He is Ukrainian. I understand the apprehension obviously, but his friends are fighting in his place. Feel good stories
like this are more than "human interest," they're propaganda, because MSM has decided that aid to Ukraine must end.
Don't want to upset Trump, Putin's agent.

So here is the deal, classic propaganda: there's the kitten feature...awww... - then
there's Duda - such a young man...so sad...so cold...Brrrrrr!
It must be more terrible than we are told if Ukrainian men are going to such extremes
to avoid fighting for their own country. Maybe we should (help) the Ukrainians negotiate and end to this terrible conflict...

Don't buy this tripe. And fuck you CBS - left, right and through the middle.

[Wonder Why]

15. The cat is a Russian agent tasked with eliminating as many Ukrainian

potential soldiers as possible from signing up.

You can't trust cats. They are all like Trump.

[harumph]

16. Da! "Ukranians desert your units and get....

a butifol kitten."

[electric_blue68]

17. Oh, kinda embarrassing I didn't think of it in those terms....

dodging their draft.

Idk, I can simpathize a bit- having to possibly put your life literally on the line depending on what your role is in the armed forces.

[C0RI0LANUS]

20. Hi electric_blue68. 1) Don't be embarrassed; 2) We don't know all the circumstances of Duda.

Duda may have lost an older brother or two when the Russians invaded and his parents advised him to flee. Duda may be LGBTQ and afraid he may be abused within the ranks of the Ukrainian Army. May be we'll find out in the future if this is that important to people.

I wrote a serious OP in GD about Ukrainian manpower issues a few months ago.
The US provides refuge to 271,000 Ukrainians; Canada has taken in similar numbers. Kiev can request Wash DC and Ottawa to return the military-age males. Kiev can ask the same of all the NATO or EU countries that host Ukrainian males, like Romania cited in this OP.

But this instant OP written about a cat was posted in the DU Lounge where it was meant to be a distraction, away from the daily political grind we are exposed to.

Somehow the rules of the DU Lounge appear to have been ignored in this thread by introducing politics that should have been thoroughly discussed in LBN, GD, or Editorials.

Sometimes DU-ers just want to read about cats, dogs or other pets as a pleasant diversion. I do.

Sources:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/us-admits-271000-ukrainian-refugees-russia-invasion-biden-rcna72177

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ukranians-canada-visas-1.7088030

[electric_blue68]

23. Good points. I definitely go here for distraction! Including cute, or beautiful animals.

Sweet cat.

[MustLoveBeagles]

18. I'm glad this had a happy ending

Peach is adorable 🥰

[C0RI0LANUS]

22. I want to reach thru my PC screen and grab Peach for myself but my wife would give me the stink-eye.

[debm55]

19. Thank you CORIOLANUS. What a sweet story.

[C0RI0LANUS]

21. You're welcome, debm55.