Saskatoon man leaves family to fight in Ukrainian army

A 51-year-old Saskatoon man has made the decision to go back to his home country of Ukraine to join the army as it battles Russian forces.

His name is being withheld for safety and security reasons, but it literally means “free will” in Ukrainian.

“(Going to fight) is … my meaning. (It’s) my decision,” he said.

He, his wife and their two sons came to Canada almost exactly 10 years ago, in 2012. Now he’s leaving them behind.

He said he’s compelled to fight.

“If you have the experience, yes, you go. My family — my mother (and) my grandfather — live in Ukraine,” he explained.

He previously served in the Ukrainian military, but said anyone who is from that country can help.

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Ukraine or in another country,” he said. “I think everybody who is Ukrainian should be to go (sic) to (the) army. If you don’t have experience, it doesn’t matter.

“You can help (as) a volunteer — a nurse, cooking, drivers or help to the humans,” he added.

He can’t say where his plane will land, where he’ll be fighting or whether he’ll be able to contact his family, but his military commitment is for one year. He said his wife is afraid for him.

“I think maybe yes, she’s worried,” he said. “She’s worried, yes.”

But that’s not enough to stop him from going to do his part against what he called genocide against the Ukrainian people. Homes, hospitals, apartment buildings and entire cities are being destroyed and millions of people — many of whom are women and children — are fleeing the country for neighbouring Poland, Romania and Hungary.

The 51-year-old wants everyone in Canada to know this: “I want to say thank (you to) all the people in Canada who help the Ukrainian (people) because they understand it’s not a war. It’s genocide against humanity. So thank you, everybody.”

His hope is to come home to his family safely when the war is over.

“To come back (and) to bring peace,” he said.