These images show Ukrainian rescuers searching through rubble in Kharkiv for survivors despite Russian missile attacks while kind-hearted firefighters in Odessa rescue this poor cat.

The first piece of footage, which Newsflash obtained from the State Emergency Service (SES) of Ukraine yesterday evening (Tuesday, 22nd March) shows rescuers in the eastern city of Kharkiv, currently besieged by Russian forces who have been met with fierce resistance, sifting through rubble for survivors.

The SES said that in Kharkiv, rescuers were “involved in the work of cleaning up collapsed and destroyed residential and administrative buildings” and that “despite constant missile shelling, rescuers persistently perform their duties in war time” and that they were conducting “search and sorting” operations.

The second piece of footage, also obtained from the SES yesterday, later in the evening, shows firefighters rescuing a poor cat from a building in the strategically vital port city of Odessa, in southern Ukraine.

It is currently unclear how the fire started in the building on Koblevska Street, in central Odessa.

The SES said that at approximately 8.50am yesterday morning, “the Rescue Service received a message about a fire in a residential building in Odessa on Koblevska Street.

“Upon arrival, the rescuers’ called to the scene established that a home property was on fire in a third-floor flat of a three-storey residential building.”

They said that they put out the fire and rescued two cats and a small rodent, with 32 firefighters involved in tackling the blaze.

The footage shows a firefighter holding a startled cat before carrying it down some stairs. The footage also shows another firefighter rushing into the building carrying a hose.

The hose is then seen being handed to a firefighter on the balcony from an extended ladder as smoke can be seen wafting out one of the building’s windows.

Kharkiv, just like the city of Mariupol, also in eastern Ukraine, has been utterly devastated by relentless Russian bombing and missile strikes, according to the Ukrainian authorities.

Odessa, meanwhile, has comparatively been spared for the time being, as Ukrainian forces have successfully repelled Russian advances on land, most notably at Mykolaiv, which has also been devastated by Russian attacks, with Ukrainian authorities saying that the city is a “shield” protecting the strategically vital southern port city.

Numerous goods and supplies transit into Ukraine after arriving in Odessa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that his so-called “special military operation” is geared towards “de-Nazifiying” Ukraine, but the country’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, has praised rescue workers across the country, who he said were doing jobs that are usually reserved for military personnel as the whole country pulls together to push back the Russian invaders.

Zelenskyy made the comments last week while honouring five emergency service workers for their courage during the Russian invasion by giving them medals.

The Ukrainian President said at the time: “We respect your work and understand that you are doing the same now as our military. Ukraine is grateful to each and every one of you.”