A Canadian Armed Forces veteran who went to Ukraine at the start of the conflict sends a message to his colleagues who might have the same desire as him: not to leave on a whim and to think regarding the real implications of such a decision .
“If you are injured, and the risks of that happening are very high, you cannot count on a helicopter evacuation, and even by the ground, if you fall on a road controlled by the Russians, good luck”, warns Léo (fictitious name), who recently returned to Quebec following a stay in Ukraine.
“If they find out you’re an international mercenary, think regarding the prison sentence, because who knows what Canada will do to help you,” he adds.
The man who was part of the CAF battle group ten years ago in Afghanistan admits to having left on a whim at the beginning of the month when he saw the images of destitute civilians all over the web. The “inaction” of other countries in the face of such violence has been the trigger for those who prefer to keep their identity secret in order to preserve the safety of their family.
“When I saw countries sending 400 rocket launchers, I freaked out,” he says. It’s like giving a glass of water to your neighbor whose house is on fire. »
Adrenaline Rush
But like many veterans, Leo admits his adrenaline addiction also played into his decision making.
“I have never felt in my place since my return from Afghanistan, launches the one who is now a firefighter in a small municipality. You have to relearn how to live in normality when you come back from such an experience and it is not easy. There’s an addictive side to war and it’s hard to control. The adrenaline rush has a lot to do with it. »
Disillusioned
However, once on Ukrainian soil, the ex-soldier admits to having been completely disillusioned when he realized that he would be paired with civilians without experience and that he would have their lives in his hands in a way.
“There are a lot of people who want to defend their country, but have no military background, so they assign them to international mercenaries,” he explains.
If Leo went there initially to provide care, he knew he would have no choice but to use arms if he wanted to ensure his safety and that of the civilians by his side.
“So I took the time to think,” he said. I wondered where my limit was. I knew that if I went there, I was going to stay there for a long time and I was probably going to lose my spouse. The reflexes of the army, of never leaving anyone behind, I knew would make me want to end this dirty war. I would never have been at peace with the idea of leaving my colleagues once the fight started. »
Léo therefore decided to return to Quebec before “having set foot in the gears”.
Educational capsules
But before leaving, he made sure to hand over all his equipment and medical supplies to people he trusted. He has also filmed capsules, published on YouTube, to teach basic care techniques in war zones to inexperienced civilians who defend their country.
Leo does not wish to influence or dissuade anyone from going to Ukraine to lend a hand. However, he invites his comrades in arms who are dying to go there to think seriously regarding the implications of such a decision. If the desire becomes too strong, the ex-soldier encourages the mercenaries to go there in groups, in order to take care of each other, and to bring a large quantity of equipment, since the resources have become rarer in the field.
“There’s definitely going to be a sacrifice in there,” he said. It’s up to you to ask yourself what you’re willing to let go. »
