American Pit Bull Terrier Adik was taken in June by cruel troops before reportedly being handed to Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the Chechen region, as a ‘trophy.’
But the pinched pooch has now been reunited with its beloved owner, a Ukrainian servicewoman, as part of a New Year prisoner swap.
Russia freed 140 Ukrainian soldiers as well as Adik in the December 31 exchange on the 310th day of the war, The Sun confirms.
The adorable canine was taken captive from Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol alongside his owner.
Putin’s men rounded up Ukrainians who bravely stayed in the decimated city as they battled to defend it.
Adik was turned over to the special services before volunteer Yuriy Kovanov offered the pup to the Russian President’s close pal Kadyrov – who is notorious for inflicting medieval torture on opponents.
He has been described as ‘the son Putin never had,’ such is his slavish devotion to the war-hungry tyrant.
The Chechen leader renamed the hijacked American Pit Bull Terrier ‘Adidas’ after accepting the gift from the Russian goon.
Adik’s safe return was announced on Twitter alongside the message: ‘Ukraine needs everyone!’
‘A pit bull terrier, who was defending Mariupol together with our soldiers, was released from RuZZsian captivity!’
Another tweet shared by animal rights group UAnimals in June 2022 detailed Adik’s story in a dramatic video.
The shocking footage showed the dog looking ‘visibly nervous as if it knew what would happen to them next.’
He was then seen being petted by a man with a long plaited beard who bears a striking resemblance to Kadyrov.
Adik and more than 200 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers were freed in the prisoner swap at a string of undisclosed locations.
Over 140 of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s troops were seen pouring out of several buses sporting smiles of relief.
Some of the soldiers – 132 men and eight women – had courageously defended the city of Mariupol.
Others were part of the incredible crew pushing back Russians on Snake Island who defiantly refused to surrender.
A large number of them were still struggling with injuries sustained in the conflict, according to Telegram channel Yermak.
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that a total of 82 Russian soldiers had been released by Ukraine.
Both sides have exchanged hundreds of prisoners in recent months, despite diplomatic talks between Moscow and Kyiv collapsing.
