In recent days, the tragic death of Jenny, an elephant who was held captive in occupied Crimea, has been revealed. Jenny's death was not just the loss of a precious animal, but also another symbol of the harsh reality under Russian occupation rule on the peninsula, which has lasted for a decade.

Since 2014, when Russia took control of the Crimean peninsula, animals in the local zoo have become invisible victims of the political and military situation in the region. The story of Jenny and her elephant friend Magda highlights another, no less concerning, aspect of life under occupation.

According to reports from local sources, after the occupation in 2014, the two elephants were transferred from the zoo to a circus in Sevastopol, a city in Crimea, for commercial purposes. Their living conditions were far from adequate. Instead of a balanced diet suitable for elephants – fresh grass, fruits, and vegetables – the elephants received a poor mixture of feed, flour, and bread. The quality of water provided to them was especially poor, particularly after Ukraine blocked the water supply to Crimea in response to the occupation. Instead of clean water, the elephants were forced to drink salty and contaminated water that negatively affected their health.

International animal rights organizations did not remain indifferent to the situation. Two years ago, they began to warn and demand the transfer of the elephants back to Ukraine or at least to a zoo in Europe, where they could receive proper care. These requests were stubbornly refused by the Russian authorities.

The disaster began to unfold when both elephants started showing signs of extreme weakness, to the point of collapsing on their legs. Veterinary examinations revealed the shocking cause – large stones in their kidneys, weighing more than two kilograms. Only at this stage, when their condition was already critical, was it decided to return them to the zoo. But for Jenny it was too late – she died shortly afterward.

Jenny's death left Magda, her close friend, in a state of deep mourning. The footage published on social media illustrates the tragedy in all its intensity: Magda is seen standing next to Jenny's body, gently touching it with her trunk, as if trying to wake her up. She returned to the body again and again, refused to part with it, and tried to prevent zoo workers from approaching.

Magda herself is in poor health. She has a two-kilogram stone in her kidney and suffers from severe pain. She groans during urination, a clear sign of the terrible physical distress she is experiencing. Despite this, there is no budget for surgery that could save her life, and there are not enough doctors in Russia with the expertise needed to treat elephants, complex animals requiring unique knowledge and experience.

Oleg Zubkov, the park director, admitted that one of the causes of Jenny's death was a 1.5-kilogram stone that completely blocked the urinary tract from the kidneys. Despite the severity of the situation, no real attempt was made to help her. In the Kyiv Zoo, there are experts capable of performing such complex surgeries, but the Russian authorities refused to consider transferring the animals back to Ukraine.

The zoo management tried to downplay the severity of the situation, claiming that "Elephant Jenny lived a long life – over 50 years, 45 of which were spent with Magda in circus arenas, and they performed in more than 20 countries. At 'Taigan' they were 'retired' and lived their last years in peace." But even in this statement there is deliberate misinformation – in the wild, elephants live up to 70 years, and Jenny's death at age 50 is evidence of a significant shortening of her lifespan.

Animal experts emphasize that in captivity, the lifespan of elephants is much shorter than in the wild. There are many reasons for this: prolonged psychological stress, limited living space, lack of adequate physical activity, monotonous and unbalanced diet. Elephants in captivity often suffer from arthritis, obesity, and other chronic diseases as a direct result of a lifestyle that does not match their natural needs. In the case of Jenny and Magda, years of exploitation in circuses and the poor conditions under Russian occupation in Crimea undoubtedly worsened their condition.

Now, the great concern is that Magda's mental state will deteriorate further following the loss of her close friend. Elephants are known to be particularly social animals, forming deep and complex bonds with their kind. The loss of a close friend can cause them deep depression, refusal to eat, and deterioration in their health.

This case reflects a broader reality of neglect and suffering in occupied Crimea. While the world focuses attention on the geopolitical and human aspects of the conflict, the story of Jenny and Magda reminds us of the silent victims – animals that cannot voice their concerns and defend themselves.

Repeated demands from animal rights organizations to transfer Magda to a safer place, where she could receive the medical treatment she needs, are met with stubborn refusal. Meanwhile, time is running out for her. Without appropriate medical intervention, Magda's fate could be identical to that of her friend Jenny.

The tragedy of the elephants in Crimea is another reminder of the human and environmental cost of wars and political conflicts. It highlights the urgent need for international oversight of animal welfare in conflict zones, and for finding humanitarian solutions that will also protect the most innocent creatures – those who do not understand the meaning of political borders and national struggles.

As Magda continues to suffer, the question arises: Will the world wake up before it's too late for her, and how many more silent victims will fall in the political struggle over the Crimean peninsula?