250,000 doses of rabies vaccine from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is an important victory for the Ukrainian veterinary community. But it is only a drop in the ocean. Ukraine’s annual urgent need for parenteral vaccine stands at 5 million doses. And it is thanks to the systematic international advocacy of the Public Union “Union of Veterinary Business Owners” (SVVS / GO SVVS) that the looming threat has become visible to the entire world.
On 15 May 2026, WOAH transferred 250,000 doses of modern rabies vaccine to Ukraine free of charge. The consignment was received by the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection (Derzhprodspozhyvsluzhba) and will be directed primarily to state veterinary hospitals in the Kyiv region. This is a real step towards strengthening prevention under martial law.
“The 250,000 doses of vaccine received are not just a resource, but a real opportunity to strengthen rabies prevention in the region. The conditions of martial law require maximum speed and consistency from us in responding. This is about continuous protection of animals, human safety and stability of the epizootic situation in the country. We are sincerely grateful to Director General Emmanuelle Soubeyran and WOAH for their consistent support of Ukraine,” said Volodymyr Kusturov, Chief State Veterinary Inspector of Ukraine, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
Why is rabies a daily risk for every veterinary doctor and clinic owner?
The war has dramatically changed the epizootic situation in Ukraine. Millions of stray animals, destroyed infrastructure, mass migration of people and animals, and the absence of planned vaccination of wild carnivores have created ideal conditions for the spread of rabies. According to the data that SVVS has consistently communicated to international partners, the number of cases rose by 159 % in 2024, and in January–February 2025 alone 230 cases had already been recorded.
Rabies is zoonosis No. 1 - it knows no borders. For practicing veterinary doctors and licensees this means daily challenges: bites, post-exposure prophylaxis, legal liability of clinics, and the constant need to explain to pet owners the importance of timely vaccination. Every unvaccinated animal poses a risk not only to the patient but also to clinic staff, clients and the whole of society within the One Health concept.
Our direct impact: from the 2023 report in Poland to real assistance today
Back in May 2023, during the annual Spring Assembly of the Visegrad Vet Plus Group in Kołobrzeg, Poland, representatives of the Public Union “Union of Veterinary Business Owners” - Alla Vyniarska and Nataliia Kletsova - delivered key reports. Alla Vyniarska presented a detailed analysis of the critical rabies situation in Ukraine, while together with her colleagues she highlighted the consequences of the Moscow-Ukrainian war for the veterinary sector.
The delegation was specially invited to Kołobrzeg by Treasurer UEVH Marek St. Kubica (Poland), who helped ensure that information about the rabies threat reached the widest possible international veterinary audience.
These speeches became one of the main arguments for the adoption of the official resolution of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) - “Rising threat of rabies in Ukraine”. The European veterinary community for the first time clearly stated: Ukraine needs urgent assistance, otherwise rabies will spread further across the EU.
Treasurer FVE Piotr Kwiecinski (Poland) from FVE - who previously served as President of UEVP - has been a strong and consistent supporter of Ukraine and our community throughout this entire process.
Read more about this historic event in our publication:
Report of Visegrad Vet Plus Group (Poland)
The continuation of this advocacy work was the publication in the Czech professional journal Zverokruh (July 2025), in which Andrii Kletsov and Nataliia Kletsova provided a detailed analysis of the rabies situation in Ukraine and the modern challenges facing the sector. The article became another powerful signal to European colleagues.
Full text of the publication:
Publication in the Czech journal: “Rabies situation in Ukraine and modern challenges”
Since 2023, SVBO has been a full member of the World Veterinary Association (WVA) from Ukraine and an observer member of UEVP/FVE. We do not simply observe — we constantly keep the rabies issue on the agenda of international platforms, prepare appeals, participate in assemblies and “knock on the doors” of everyone who can help. It is precisely thanks to this systematic work that today’s WOAH support has become possible.
What SVBO does for you every day: real support for licensees
- We provide legal support to veterinary licensees on zoonosis prevention, client conflicts and inspections by the State Service.
- We keep the community informed about all regulatory changes (for example, updates to the Ministry of Health Order on rabies prevention).
- We conduct regular webinars, CEO Club sessions and training for clinic managers on One Health, staff management and business-process optimisation.
- We develop and update packages of standard documents for veterinary businesses.
All of this forms part of the SVVS development strategy for 2025–2027, in which advocacy, legal protection and international cooperation are the key pillars.
Thank you to our partners and we continue to “knock on doors”
Today’s WOAH assistance is the result of joint efforts by the Ukrainian veterinary community, the state and international partners. We are sincerely grateful to Emmanuelle Soubeyran (WOAH), Volodymyr Kusturov and the entire team of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, as well as our colleagues from WVA, FVE, the Visegrad Vet Plus Group and the Krajowa Izba Lekarsko-Weterynaryjna.
Special thanks go to Rafael Laguens, who at that time was President of the World Veterinary Association (WVA) and personally visited Ukraine to support our veterinary community. We are also deeply grateful to Piotr Kwiecinski (FVE Treasurer , former UEVP President) for his strong and consistent support of Ukraine and our association, and to Marek St. Kubica - Treasurer UEVH - (Poland) for the invitation to Kołobrzeg and for helping to bring the rabies issue to the international stage.
But 250,000 doses is only the beginning. We need systemic solutions and millions of doses annually. Therefore, the Union continues its international advocacy, strengthens partnerships and prepares new projects.
Join the NGO “Society of Veterinary Business Owner” - together we are the voice that is heard around the world. Together we protect not only our own businesses but also the future of veterinary medicine in Ukraine.
Contacts:
- Website: uacbbc.org/ua
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NGO “Society of Veterinary Business Owners” - the hub for the development of veterinary business in Ukraine. Unity. Protection. Development.
