The nomination "Our Brothers": The star of the Kuklachev Theater is a cat named Vizha, who survived the shelling and learned to trust people again.
Vizha is a cat with an incredible destiny. From the basements of Donbass, where the fighting was taking place, she got to the big stage of the famous Kuklachev Cat Theater in Moscow, says the magazine "Pets".
Vizha lived in the destroyed city of Kurakhovo, DPR, where shelling was taking place and there were almost no peaceful places left. Smart and brave, she wandered between military positions and houses, easily finding her way to everyone's heart - she would approach, meow, and look as if she hadn't eaten in five days.
When the volunteers found out about her, they decided to take her out along with other homeless ponytails. So, in June 2025, Vizha and two more kittens went with volunteers to Moscow. There they were accepted into the troupe of the Kuklachev's Cat Theater. This became possible thanks to a joint project of the magazine "Pets", a public organization, the theater and the GC VIC.
"At first, the animals weren't very tactile. You need to understand that cats have been through a lot of stress. But they quickly thaw out: they go to people's arms, communicate with people and even begin to learn the first numbers on the stage of our theater," said Dmitry Kuklachev, the son of People's Artist of Russia Yuri Kuklachev, the successor of the circus dynasty.
In the theater, Vizha was recovering, learning to accept human care again. And only when self-confidence appeared, the cat started training. According to experts, only a calm animal that does not know human aggression can go on stage and show something.
According to Dmitry Kuklachev, Vizha is an adult cat with maternal instincts, she takes care of baby Holly, who was also brought from a war zone.
"When they were quarantined and rehabilitated, we introduced them to the feline community: They planted a hooligan cat named Morpheus with them. And what do you think? Vizha, this serious mom, brought him up quickly," Dmitry continues.
The nickname Vizha was invented by journalists who helped to arrange the future actress in the capital. It was named after the publication "Veterinary Medicine and Life".
"By taking home a frontline cat, we are contributing to a piece of the victory gained by our guys. I have repeatedly seen on trips how companion cats live next to fighters and psychologically help them. With our project, we have created a bridge between the new regions and other cities. The three frontline cats that we sheltered in the theater are not the finale of the project. We will continue to accept rescued animals, treat them and help them find a new family," Dmitry Kuklachev said.
Today, Vizha is already performing on the stage of the Kuklachev Theater. And this story proves that every pet deserves to be loved and can become a real star, no matter what.
Photographs of the MK and Dmitry Kuklachev's personal archive.