Some dual Canadian-Ukrainian citizens trapped in war zone

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Canada has vowed to absorb an “limitless quantity” of Ukrainians as thousands and thousands of refugees flee their homeland amid a brutal Russian invasion.

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However twin Canadian-Ukrainian residents are on their very own if they’re males of preventing age.

“It blows my thoughts that Canada is spending a lot cash to help Ukraine — taking in refugees, offering weapons, ammunition and equipment to the navy — and all they should do is make a name to authorities officers and say, ‘Please enable twin residents to go away,’” a Canadian-Ukrainian citizen in Lviv, who we’ll name Peter as a result of he’s nervous about being recognized, instructed the Toronto Solar.

“I’m not asking to return to Canada,” he stated. “I simply wish to be allowed to go away the nation.”

Peter was born in Ukraine, attended college in america and later settled along with his Ukrainian spouse in Canada the place their son was born.

In 2016, he determined to maneuver his household again to Ukraine the place he and his spouse have loved a great life in Kyiv whereas operating their enterprise and elevating their son — a Canadian citizen who’s now a younger teenager.

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However every little thing modified when the Russian navy invaded with out provocation on Feb. 24 and made its means in direction of Ukraine’s capital within the terrifying days that adopted.

“When a ballistic missile shot by our home at 4 within the morning, we determined we needed to get out of there,” Peter stated.

His household spent 48 hours travelling 700 kms by automobile to western Ukraine, passing via navy checkpoints in every village and shopping for small quantities of gasoline the place it was accessible.

“It was insane,” Peter stated. “However we had been fortunate that we had been capable of go away with out being uncovered to any shelling or looting.”

Peter deliberate to cross the border and resettle in Poland, or maybe one other neighbouring nation, however he determined in opposition to it after listening to tales of males with twin citizenship being separated from their households and compelled into the navy.

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When the warfare erupted, Ukraine invoked martial regulation and made it unlawful for males between 18 and 60 who’re Ukrainian residents to go away the nation.

Involved border guards would deal with him as a deserter if they found he’s a twin citizen, Peter has determined to remain in Ukraine for now. And his spouse refuses to go away with out him, which means his son should additionally keep.

Peter stated he reached out to World Affairs Canada for assist and was instructed his spouse and son might be flown to Canada in the event that they crossed the border however that he’s not even entitled to Consular companies.

World Affairs Canada factors on the market are main variations between being a Canadian travelling overseas as a vacationer and being a Canadian residing as a citizen in a foreign country.

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“All Canadian travellers should obey the legal guidelines of the nation they’re visiting,” spokesperson Lama Khodr stated. “Twin residents could also be topic to native legal guidelines that different Canadians travellers will not be.”

“For instance, they might be legally required to register for navy service or must pay taxes in that nation,” she defined.

Khodr confirmed native authorities may additionally “refuse to present” such twin residents “entry to Canadian consular companies.”

She stated there are about 1,250 Canadians registered in Ukraine with the Registration of Canadians Overseas service.

“As registration is voluntary, this isn’t a whole image of Canadians contained in the nation,” Khodr stated.

Peter estimates the precise quantity could also be 4 or 5 instances greater, however most are both not males 18-60 or are unfit for navy service.

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“So, we’re in all probability lower than 2,000 people who find themselves caught and can get no assist from Canada,” he stated. “I feel that the suitable to move for two,000 folks is a small value for what Canada is doing for Ukraine.”

Buddies again in Canada have been gathering physique armour, knee pads and different navy equipment to ship abroad to Peter in case he finally ends up on the frontline.

However being in his late-40s with no navy coaching, he doubts he would be capable of make a lot of a contribution in battle.

Peter, who’s greater than keen to pitch in and assist in different ways in which don’t contain fight, stated he simply hopes western Ukraine stays secure for his household.

“However it could be good to know if issues get fully uncontrolled that there’s an possibility to go away,” he stated.

cdoucette@postmedia.com

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