Stepan, the influential cat who had been a refugee in France since March, has returned to live in Ukraine. The announcement was made last Wednesday (21) on the cat’s social media.
With 1.3 million followers on Instagram, Stepan gained fame and memes for posing with his little arm leaning on a table, next to a drink, as if he were enjoying a cesspool in a bar.
With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine on February 24, he and his tutor, Anna, left Kharkiv and received help from the WIBA (World Influencers and Bloggers Awards) team, a global award for the world’s top opinion leaders and bloggers, to take refuge in the south of France.
The organization rented an apartment for them to stay there until they could safely return to Ukraine. Now, they are in the city of Lviv helping to rescue other animals affected by the conflict.
“Latest news! I, the cat Stepan, have returned to Ukraine. I’m sure everyone who loves the motherland can be useful. Especially cats. That’s why I dedicate my page not only to fun content to make you smile. extremely important thing. We are rescuing animals from all over Ukraine! We have already helped @happy_paw, @uanimals.official, @zoo_12m, @snezhana_zahist_tvarin, Mykolaiv Zoo and Kharkiv Zoo with over 15 thousand dollars! It’s really amazing, thanks to everyone for their love and support. So I’m announcing a new fundraiser for the vital needs of animals that are in difficult conditions. Show the power of cat lovers!” the post reads.
In May, Stepan received a WIBA Digital Influencer Award. The event took place at the famous Hotel Martinez in Cannes, southern France.
During the ceremony, the feline took pictures with other celebrities such as the Senegalese Khaby Lame, with more than 138 million followers on Tiktok and 77 million on Instagram.
In this latest edition, the awards helped raise funds for people in vulnerable situations during the Ukraine war.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
