A dog adopted by a Ukranian couple from the streets of Fort Kochi five years ago has become a social media sensation for urging “Mother India” and its leaders to help its adoptive country under Russian attack.

Chapati — so called because of its thin build and tan coat — was adopted in 2017 and taken to Kyiv by Kristina Masalova and Eugene Petrus who had quit their jobs and sold their belongings to travel. Within a few months, the India Book of Records certified Chapati as the most travelled Indian dog.

As soon as Russia launched the blitzkrieg on Ukraine, the social media accounts of the dog carried an appeal to India. “Beloved Mother India, my family’s lives are under threat as (are) the lives of millions of peaceful Ukranians and innocent animals. Only because one crazy dictator craves to still (sic) our freedom. Mother India! Don’t be silent! Go to the streets and speak your support for the Ukrainian nation. Help your politicians make the right choice to be on the side of Light, not (a) blood thirsty aggressor!”

This was before India abstained from voting against Russia in the United Nations Security Council.

Chapati, whose social media profiles go by the name Traveling Chapati, has more than 34,000 followers on Instagram and 8,600 followers on Facebook. Both the profiles are filled with pictures of travels that took the couple and Chapati to over 40 countries.

Ever since the Russian invasion, the couple has been using the social media accounts to share gloomy updates about how the war has upended normal life in Ukraine.

While many well-wishers have been sending prayers and words of solidarity to the couple and their pet, others have been sharing information on how to cross into Poland with Chapati.

In her latest update, Masalova informed that they would stay put in Ukraine as men aged between 18 and 60 were expected to stay and fight for the country. “This is obvious because we have to have some reserves and there should be some men here who will defend our land,” Masalova said in a despondent video message posted on Sunday.

“And yes, of course, Chapati’s safety is very very important and we are doing everything to provide that. But I still have my beloved husband, the beloved father of Chapati, Eugene. And if we cannot leave with him, we don’t have any sense to leave. We are a family and we have to be here,” she added.

When a person named Sutheinapalan asked why the family couldn’t move to Poland, the Instagram account of Chapati, responded: “No, my dad is prohibited to leave Ukraine due to the war.”

Each update by Masalova is received with prayers and “stay safe” messages. Many sent prayers for the safety and well-being of all in Ukraine.

Dipali De, whose profile says she is a government official, wanted to see the dog. “How’s Chapati? Where’s she? Would you please show her if possible?” she asked.

In a similar act, an Indian student has refused to leave Ukraine without his pet dog adopted from that country.

Rishabh Kaushik, a third-year engineering student at the Karkhiv National University, has been trying to get the necessary permissions to carry his pet dog Malibu.

In a video message posted on Instagram, Kaushik said he had not succeeded in getting help from the Indian embassy and the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service in Delhi.

According to his last update, he has moved with Malibu to a bomb shelter in Kyiv.