KAWARTHA LAKES-Zach England says he couldn’t sit by and watch the war in Ukraine unfold without doing something to help. So he purchased a plane ticket to make the long journey from Edmonton to Toronto then on to Poland and eventually to Ukraine.
“I have a 9-year-old daughter. I talked to her and explained there are little girls over there just like her that need help and I am going to go help them and then come home.” England told Kawartha 411 News.
When asked if he had considered the fact that he might not make it home, England said he is aware of the dangers but will not let that deter him.
“I’m worried but I’m not terrified. I am going to do my best not to die,” he explains. “I think it’s the right thing to do, they are begging for help and I couldn’t imagine if this was going on in Canada and everyone stood by and let it happen and didn’t do anything to help.”
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24th. Ukrainian officials say deaths and injuries are mounting. Canada, The US, UK, Germany and others have implemented harsh financial sanctions on Russia. Some have provided weapons but so far no other country has officially provided troops or aircraft etc.
England says he understands why governments can’t intervene so in his mind it’s up to people to volunteer. He says he will be joining others from England, Scotland and the US.
I am going through the Ukrainian Embassy, I filled out the paperwork. They are looking for medical and police background. I was a firefighter in the Edmonton area so I’m going over the help fight and help the injured, escort people to safety. Whatever they need, I will do it.”
England grew up in Bexley Township, attending Lady Mackenzie Public School and Fenelon Falls Secondary School. He currently lives in Little Britain but works as a pipeliner in the Edmonton Area. He says he has no qualms about giving up a good-paying job to enter a war half a world away.
“I thought about it long and hard. When they put out an open call for volunteers to go help, I made up my mind,” he says.
Defence Minister Anita Anand says there are uncertainties around whether it is legal for Canadians to fight for Ukraine. Many Canadians have been answering the Ukrainian government’s call for volunteers to help defend the country. Instead, Anand encouraged people to enlist with the Canadian Armed Forces.
“If there are Canadians who are interested in the Armed Forces, the Canadian Armed Forces is currently recruiting,” said Anand “And we would very much welcome applications from across the country to the Canadian Armed Forces, where we have had a training mission in Ukraine since 2015 and have trained over 33,000 Ukrainian soldiers.”
England says he has made arrangements to pick up a bulletproof vest, ammunition carrier, medic kits and army helmet in Toronto. He plans on linking up with the Ukrainian Army once he reaches the border. He will arrive on March 8th.