In the military unit of the 128th separate heavy mechanized brigade 'Wild Field,' an unusual resident has appeared - a green monkey nicknamed Zina. The unit's driver, Oleksiy, purchased this monkey during his vacation in 2025 and brought her back to the base. Zina has become a kind of talisman for the soldiers, who are located less than 20 kilometers from the front line.
Oleksiy shares that he always dreamed of having an exotic animal, and his choice fell on Zina. The monkey has already become a member of the military family, bringing joy and distracting from stress. Although Oleksiy does not take her with him to the front, she still has quite a wardrobe and her own character.
'She is like a daughter. This is anti-stress... for all her antics, when I scold her, this one meeting is enough - I forgive her everything,' the driver shares.
Zina loves to play and captivates the soldiers. She chooses her own clothes but does not care about a special diet and is ready to play with various items that could pose a threat to herself.
'You need to keep an eye on her. This is a little child who can pick up anything from the floor... clearly, she is already interested in military gear, climbing on weapons, pulling grenades,' Oleksiy explains.
'Anti-stress and talisman': monkey Zina lives with the evacuees of the 128th brigade
Life with the monkey has become the norm for the soldiers, although from time to time, Zina may show her character by biting someone. Oleksiy hopes to return with his beloved pet to his hometown Mariupol, where both feel at home.
Ecology in the war zone
In addition to monkey Zina, other unexpected residents have been noticed in the frontline areas: red-listed stag beetles that have massively settled in the dugouts. This is another evidence of how war affects ecology and leads to changes in the natural environment.
Monkey Zina has become an inexhaustible source of positivity and joy for the soldiers in the war zone, lifting their spirits and helping them to distract from the stress and dangers that surround them. Natural adaptations in the conflict zone, such as the appearance of red-listed stag beetles, remind of the unique conditions in which the soldiers fight and show how nature finds ways to survive amidst human activity.