Stepan (cat): Difference between revisions

On February 24, 2022, Anna and Stepan were surprised by the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], during which bombings destroyed parts of Kharkiv, including residential neighborhoods, causing dozens of deaths and injuries. After the invasion began, Stepan's social media accounts confirmed that both Stepan and Anna survived the bombings, finding themselves in a shelter. Stepan's photos have been accompanied by photos of the destruction caused by Russian forces, and messages calling for an end to the invasion and a return to peace.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flood |first=Rebecca |date=2022-03-03 |title=Famous meme cat from Ukraine uses viral platform to plea for end to the war |url=https://www.newsweek.com/famous-meme-cat-ukraine-viral-platorm-plea-end-war-russia-stepan-1684488 |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=[[Newsweek]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2022-03-03 |title=Ukraine Becomes the World's "First TikTok War" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/watching-the-worlds-first-tiktok-war |access-date=2022-03-04 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref> After Stepan and his family escaped to Poland, the World Influencers and Bloggers Association helped them find a safe house in France.<ref name=":2">{{cite news | last=Lorenz | first=Taylor | title=How Stepan, Ukraine's most famous cat, escaped the war to safety | newspaper=Washington Post | date=March 17, 2022 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/03/17/stepan-ukrainian-cat-safety/ | access-date=March 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Carson|first=Erin|title=Stepan the Internet-Famous Cat Escapes Ukraine, Finds Safety|website=CNET|date=March 17, 2022|url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/internet/stepan-the-internet-famous-cat-escapes-ukraine-and-finds-safety/|access-date=}}</ref>

Following the Russian invasion the social media posts of Stepan switched to [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]].<ref name="66509999Stepan"/> Stepan's owner Anna told the [[BBC]]: "We've all changed mentally after seeing what sort of thing this '[[Russian world]]' (a concept of a cultural and political space promoted by [[Russia]]) really is."<ref name="66509999Stepan"/>

In August 2022, Anna adopted a kitten, Stephania; she is a [[Tabby cat|tabby]] and looks a lot like Stepan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/stephania_girlcat/ | title=Stephania (@stephania_girlcat) • Instagram photos and videos }}</ref> In November of that year, Stepan was appointed as an '"ambassador'" by the [[Ministry of Culture and Information Policy]] as part of their '"Save Ukrainian Culture'" campaign.<ref>[https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-society/3609721-cat-stepan-becomes-ambassador-of-save-ukrainian-culture-project.html Cat Stepan becomes ambassador of ‘Save Ukrainian Culture’ project], Urkrinform, 7 November 2022.</ref>

In 2022 Stepan's social media pages helped raise almost 15,000 [[euroseuro]]s for food, medicine and other care for other Ukrainian animals who suffered in the war.<ref name="66509999Stepan"/>

In 2024, Anna announced that Stepan had fallen ill due to stress following a Russian attack on Kharkiv on 23 &nbsp;January and was receiving medications.<ref>{{cite news |title="Stress-induced illness": Internet-famous Ukrainian cat falls sick after Russian attack on Kharkiv – photo |website=Ukrainska Pravda |date=26 January 2024 |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/26/7439073/ |access-date=7 March 2024}}</ref> In March, Anna announced that they had relocated to Germany with her cats.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C4VvFj6sBqo/?hl=en&img_index=1 | title=Dear Friends! We found our new home in Germany. I feel good. Thank you for your thoughts ❤️ |work=Instagram |date=11 March 2024}}</ref>