A kangaroo at a zoo in western Russia has been killed in shelling, the zoo has announced.
The zoo in Belgorod said the animal, named Grandi, was outside when her enclosure was “damaged by cluster fragments” on Tuesday.
It came as Russian officials said air defence systems destroyed Ukraine-launched missiles and drones over Belgorod and other regions bordering Ukraine.
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“There are no words to convey the pain. And anger. And powerlessness,” Belgorod Zoo said in a social media post announcing the death.
None of its employees were injured in the attack, it said, adding: “Despite the terrible danger, everyone goes to work every day, because the animals in the zoo are completely dependent on us.”
Grandi, a Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, was transferred to Belgorod from St Petersburg in 2019.
“She immediately charmed us with her friendliness, meekness and absolute fearlessness,” the zoo said.
The hopping marsupial happily let herself be petted and “really loved being hand-fed”.
The zoo said an autopsy would be carried out to determine whether she was pregnant when she died.
“We hope there was no one in her pouch,” the zoo said.
“We will never forget you, sweet girl. Grandi, when this living nightmare is over, we will plant the most delicious grape tree in our forest to honour you,” it added, noting grapes were the animal’s favourite treat.
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Damage at Belgorod Zoo following shelling. Pic: Belgorod Zoo
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It comes as Belgorod’s governor, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said 9,000 children would be evacuated from the border region because it is being continuously shelled by Ukraine.
Kyiv does not typically comment directly on strikes on Russian soil, but its Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday that any military action there was “the direct consequence of the illegal and unprovoked aggression of Russia against Ukraine” when the Kremlin’s forces launched their invasion.
