We strive for a world where the principles of compassion and justice apply to all its inhabitants, and all animals are protected by law. We have united to be the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves.
To end cruelty to animals in agriculture of Russia and create a food system based on ethics, resource efficiency, environmental care, and public health
Effectiveness
We work toward institutional changes to bring the greatest benefit to animals.
Expertise
We rely on knowledge in animal protection, veterinary science, biology, ecology, and economics, and we engage experts in our work.
Collaboration
We join forces with the commercial sector, the government, and other NGOs.
Defines the organization’s development strategy, coordinates program activities, and manages communication with key allies.
Studied at the Faculty of Philology at Saint Petersburg University of Trade Unions. While searching for her calling, she tried various professions, including tourism manager, tour guide, tutor, and legal assistant. She has been helping animals since childhood. Her activism began in 2009 when she successfully campaigned for the closure of a traveling zoo. In 2010, she became a volunteer at the Center for Animal Rights Protection “VITA,” and in 2012, she headed its branch in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad region. She was the driving force and co-organizer of numerous projects and actions. In 2017, she co-founded Voices for Animals with a group of activists.
She is passionate about history, astronomy, and biology and enjoys ice skating and strength training. In her free time, when she is not advocating for animals, she helps people in difficult situations. Dinara shares her home with a cat, Lyusya Sigizmundovna, and a dog, Manya.
Manages the organization’s operations, defines performance metrics, regulations, and procedures, allocates resources, and leads the organizing committee of the Russian Conference on Animal Rights.
Graduated from Novosibirsk Technical University and completed courses in management, fundraising, and project and product management. She has experience as a store director, developed an online school, and managed internal projects in the IT sector. Yulia has been engaged in activism for many years, with extensive experience organizing events focused on animal protection, veganism, and ecology. She has been with Voices for Animals since its founding.
She stopped eating animal flesh at the age of four after learning where meat comes from. She enjoys learning foreign languages, hiking, drawing, and watching sitcoms. Yulia shares her home with a rescued dog and eight cats.
Responsible for public relations and government affairs.
Graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Omsk State University and completed courses in PR, SMM, and media communications. She worked in journalism for 15 years, including as an editor-in-chief. While covering animal protection events in Saint Petersburg, she began writing about the issue and volunteering with Voices for Animals.
She first became aware of animal exploitation in childhood when she witnessed the killing of geese. Lyudmila has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals for many years. She shares her home with a rescued cat and dog. In her free time, she enjoys reading and cooking, and she loves nature and traveling.
Develops the bioethics education program for schoolchildren, writes educational materials, and leads the program team.
Graduated from Herzen State Pedagogical University as a teacher-researcher and curriculum developer. She has worked in education since 2014 and has been involved in bioethics programs since 2019.
Maria was born in Leningrad but spent her childhood in the Pskov region, where she was constantly surrounded by animals—not only dogs and cats but also cows, goats, and horses. This experience led her to realize that animals share the Earth with us, and we have no right to harm or deprive them of their existence.
She became vegan after watching the documentary Earthlings, which her mother showed her. Maria helps homeless animals and birds and lives with eight rescued cats. In her free time, she enjoys running and cycling and dreams of becoming a volunteer firefighter.
Works with regulatory legal acts and scientific research on farm animal housing, developing legislative proposals to improve animal welfare.
Graduated from the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences.
He began his journey in animal protection by helping stray animals. Later, he turned his attention to the dire conditions of animals in fur farming and eventually to all farmed animals. He chose to help them because they are the largest and most vulnerable category of animals.
Handles legal matters and provides expert environmental consulting for projects.
Graduated from the Saint Petersburg University of Civil Aviation. Has been engaged in legal and public work for over 20 years. Served as a municipal deputy, worked with the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, and led an environmental law center for seven years.
Artyom is a proud father of two children, the guardian of a pet snail and a rescue dog. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, swimming, solving crosswords, and hiking.
Organizes the program’s work, coordinating the team of staff and volunteers.
Graduated from the Agrarian University in St. Petersburg. Spent 15 years in the construction retail industry, working her way up from salesperson to director. Later pursued studio photography. She started thinking about the plight of animals in 2010 after watching the documentary Where Does a Hamburger Come From? Anna joined Voices for Animals as a volunteer at the 2nd Russian Animal Rights Conference, later coordinating the Cage-Free project for the protection of laying hens. In 2024, she took on the Law program.
Anna enjoys dancing, going to the gym, and watching TV series with her cat Murzik and dog Yasik.
Implements and promotes plant-based nutrition in universities, youth, and environmental events.
She led the plant-based nutrition department at the St. Petersburg State University Eco-Committee, successfully introducing a vegan menu in university cafeterias.
Since childhood, she has cared for stray dogs and cats and thought about animal exploitation. She became vegan at 19 after meeting a cow, and now her entire large family shares her views. Lisa is interested in fashion and theater and loves intellectual games. She lives with four cats and a dog.
Develops the bioethics education programme for schoolchildren, writes educational materials, and leads the program team.
Graduated from Herzen State Pedagogical University as a teacher-researcher and curriculum developer. She has worked in education since 2014 and has been involved in bioethics programs since 2019.
Maria was born in Leningrad but spent her childhood in the Pskov region, where she was constantly surrounded by animals—not only dogs and cats but also cows, goats, and horses. This experience led her to realize that animals share the Earth with us, and we have no right to harm or deprive them of their existence.
She became vegan after watching the documentary Earthlings, which her mother showed her. Maria helps homeless animals and birds and lives with eight rescued cats. In her free time, she enjoys running and cycling and dreams of becoming a volunteer firefighter.
Responsible for public relations and government affairs.
Graduated from the Faculty of Philology at Omsk State University and completed courses in PR, SMM, and media communications. She worked in journalism for 15 years, including as an editor-in-chief. While covering animal protection events in Saint Petersburg, she began writing about the issue and volunteering with Voices for Animals.
She first became aware of animal exploitation in childhood when she witnessed the killing of geese. Lyudmila has been rescuing and rehabilitating animals for many years. She shares her home with a rescued cat and dog. In her free time, she enjoys reading and cooking, and she loves nature and traveling.
Manages the organization’s and its programs’ social media pages and engages with followers.
Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism at Belgorod University. Has experience in social journalism, launching media projects, and PR for an art gallery and a publishing house. She joined the animal protection movement when she realized she wanted her work to make a real impact.
At 10 years old, she stopped eating meat after witnessing the slaughter of her beloved pig, Misha. At 16, she solidified her views on animal farming after visiting a cattle farm to write a report for a local newspaper.
Dariya loves French cinema and Asian animation, is interested in psychology, and stays active in sports.
Oksana is one of the founders of the St. Petersburg branch of the Vita center and later co-founded Voices for Animals. For many years, she organized festivals, conducted lessons, and developed materials for the educational project Bioethics for Children. She also conducted an investigation into the treatment of animals at the Fontanka Circus.
Oksana graduated from the Saratov Art School and works as a sculptor. She loves traveling, kayaking, cycling, and hiking. She shares her home with two rescued cats.
One of the founding members of Voices for Animals. Coordinated the programme for the protection of fur-bearing animals, assisted in the human resources department and helped organise the Russian Conference on Animal Rights. In 2025, she became assistant to the Chair.
Trained as a teacher of English language and literature (Saint Petersburg State University). Undertook further training in software testing, IT recruitment and methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language — to help migrant children settle in Russia.
Over the years, she has worked for Russian and international companies specialising in computer hardware and software, then for the ‘112’ emergency service and at Yandex. She became involved in animal welfare through veganism and her acquaintance with activists from the St Petersburg branch of the ‘Vita’ Centre for the Protection of Animal Rights, which later gave rise to Voices for Animals.
Olga has three children, a dog and a cat. She is interested in language teaching methods and enjoys outdoor activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, snowboarding, table tennis and badminton, as well as travelling and growing herbs at her dacha.
Responsible for financial and personnel matters.
Graduated from Novgorod State University. Has worked in teaching, service, confectionery, and landscape design but has spent most of her career managing budgets and human resources.
Lyubov grew up in a village and always wanted to befriend animals. She never turns away when an animal needs help. She loves growing plants, baking desserts, and hiking—she has even conquered Mount Elbrus.
Ensures smooth coordination between departments, handles administrative tasks, helps organize events, and onboards new volunteers.
Danelia is a linguist who speaks five languages and studies at the Faculty of Philology at St. Petersburg State University.
Since age 15, she has been involved in social activism, assisting migrants and refugees, coordinating psychological support services, and volunteering at eco-centers. She also worked on an eco-startup that recycled waste using mycelium.
She became aware of animal exploitation through a vegan friend—and went vegan herself overnight. She firmly believes that violence against animals is inherently wrong.
In her free time, Danelia writes poetry, grows plants, enjoys reading, watching classic films, and dancing at parties.
Handles the organization’s technical needs, including websites and landing pages.
Graduated from St. Petersburg State University, holds a PhD in Physics and Mathematics, and is an associate professor. He has been engaged in scientific research for over 15 years.
Before that, he worked in various fields: newspaper layout, IT administration, design, and railway electrical work. He and his wife have been longtime volunteers in animal protection organizations. He is also a marathon runner and a blood donor. One of the founders of Voices for Animals.
Pavel has a deep passion for science in all its forms, as well as photography and electronics.
Born and raised in Leningrad. Graduated with honours from St Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. Whilst studying, undertook a work placement at an agricultural enterprise, and after graduating began working in dairy farming.
Over the course of 23 years as a veterinary surgeon, she has strived to learn and apply effective methods for detecting, preventing and treating diseases in cows. When helping those who cannot complain, it is vital to understand cause-and-effect relationships and the impact of welfare on animal health.
Hobby: cynology. Mission: rescuing abandoned dogs. Anastasia has a house in a small village where she looks after 40 rescued dogs and dreams of opening a shelter.
Graduated from the Ivanovo State Agricultural Academy with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. A specialist with 25 years’ professional experience. This includes working within the state veterinary service and holding senior positions in veterinary institutions.
Involved in auditing livestock farms and developing veterinary protocols and animal husbandry techniques aimed at improving animal welfare and the sustainability of agriculture. Acts as an expert and speaker at professional conferences and participates in public discussions on the role of farm animal welfare.
In her work, she combines veterinary science, agricultural economics and the principles of responsible animal care.
Develops dishes for the Food for Thought program. Conducts master classes for university cafeteria staff on preparing plant-based meals that are both tasty and nutritious. Assists in organizing catering for events.
He became a vegetarian while living in the Far North, without any like-minded people around him. In 2016, he opened Russia’s first vegan burger joint, followed by the catering company Hood. As he grew his vegan business, he began participating in animal protection organizations. In 2021, he joined the Food for Thought project, developed a comprehensive plant-based menu for universities, and now helps implement it.
In his free time, Artūras enjoys playing soccer, boxing, and reading books.
