When the US slapped down sanctions on Russia in March, the nation’s pets took to the internet to vent their anger. Now, with pro-Russian separatists occupying public buildings in eastern Ukraine and a referendum on the horizon, the country’s cats, dogs, rabbits and even crabs are nailing their colours to the mast by donning the orange-and-black St George Ribbon, a symbol of Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany. Images of these (adorable) pro-separatist pets began to flood the internet earlier this week with the #сепаратяка (“little separatist”) hashtag, with more being published by the hour.