A new public conflict has erupted on social media between journalist Ramina Eshakzai and the head of the medical service of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion, Alina Mykhaylova. The reason was a discussion around the Kyiv dog training center Dogland, which has come under a barrage of criticism due to suspicions of animal cruelty.
Ramina noted in her comment that working with "difficult" dogs sometimes requires harsh methods. At the same time, the video that has spread online shows trainers being rude not to aggressive fighting dogs, but to small decorative ones. This outraged Mikhailova, who publicly expressed suspicion that the journalist could have received payment for advertising the center.
Voyskova also reminded about Ramina's "old skeletons in the closet," including her former sympathies for Russians. In response, the journalist stated that she expected a public apology and advised Mikhailova to "take the dogs home" if she was so actively defending them.
Ramina's team emphasized in the comments: there were no paid posts from "Dogland". The only visit to the center took place at the request of a volunteer and concerned two difficult dogs that were trying to find a home. It is noted that it was thanks to such publications that Dmytro Kuleba took in one of the rescued dogs.
The journalist now has five dogs, four of which were rescued from shelters or problematic kennels. Her team called on Mikhailova to provide evidence of the accusations and noted that the military did not react so actively to Ramina's other materials - in particular, about children from the occupation, Pokrovsk, Avdiivka, Zmiiniy Island, or the Azov regiment.
Social media experts suggest that there will likely be no apologies in this dispute, but rather a continuation of a loud public spat.
