Canadians return to Ukraine and leave their lives to help resist

“What would be the meaning of my life if I stayed here?” Within a few weeks, Canadian-Ukrainian Vartan Davtian liquidated 14 years of life in Canada, returning to Eastern Europe to defend a growing country.

On Wednesday, Davtian bought a ticket to Ukraine, risked his life in front of the Russian army, leaving work and a safe and quiet life in Canada.

Dressed in a brown T-shirt, he arrived at Winnipeg Airport in the Prairie area of Canada, where he dragged a large piece of luggage full of medical supplies, clothes and some personal belongings to the cashier to say goodbye to his friends, all tied with blue and yellow laces.

The 37-year-old says that it is a clear decision to put his current life aside instead of sitting idly by a Russian bomb falling on Ukraine, where his family still lives.

He told AFP before the flight took off: “It is not right for Russia to do this, and it is not right for other countries to watch the invasion.”

“Not all situations are right,” he said.

Born in Armenia, Davtian spent his childhood in Ukraine until he moved to Canada 14 years ago.

When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, they quit their jobs in the oil sector and began to develop plans to help their former compatriots in the fight against neighboring occupiers.

As the departure approaches, he explains through news networks and social media from the comfort of Canada that he has no right to “sit still” about what is happening on the ground, and his sister, niece, cousin, and other family and friends were at war.

“What is the purpose of your life in this case?” he asked.

He says that he watched the war on television as a child.

“You can wake up suddenly and see a rocket destroying buildings and killing neighbors and family.” She says with a broken voice.

He understands that it is difficult for most people to imagine such a thing in Canada, which is almost 8,000 kilometers away from the conflict.

- 'I've never done it before' -

“I've never done anything like this before.” He admits, referring to armed battles. “But when I saw the news and all that, I thought, 'I wouldn't hesitate. '”

After several connecting flights, Davtian arrives in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and hopes to cross the border into Ukraine.

It carries provisions and donations collected by approximately 1.4 million members of the local Ukrainian diaspora in Canada, including medical supplies, drones, batteries and baby items.

Davtian also has a scarf of Ukrainian color, which is the lucky charm that his friend Liudmyla Artemchuk gave him.

“She asked me to bring them back,” she emphasized when she returned.

While everyone says goodbye, the face is depressed. Artemchuk found it a day before his childhood friend died in a Russian bombardment. Since the beginning of the war, civilians have paid a huge price.

Artemchuk said: “I think he is very important because he is very brave and will help people.” In Ukraine, they say.

In the province of Manitoba, as in the whole country, Ukrainian-Canadians organized anti-war demonstrations and collected donations and goods to send to Ukraine.

Davtian spent the night before the flight with dozens of friends from Ukraine, preparing for the last minute and packing items to take with him.

He shares his last thoughts about a family that, despite the circumstances, is eager to reunite. “Three years have passed without seeing them.”

Some of his friends wanted to join the journey, but they can't leave Canada because “I'm responsible here.”

“He is my hero”, her friend Maryna Prystaiko recognizes AFP when fixing the last buckle and adjusting the straps of the luggage.