Saskatchewan resident heeds call for Ukraine support

As Ukraine’s president pleads for people to help defend his country against the Russians, some people in Saskatchewan are taking the request to heart.

One of those people is a 70-year-old man from Lipton, northeast of Regina.

William Patykewych is looking to make his way to Ukraine. For him, the idea of helping in any way he can is very significant.

“My father was a nationalist, and when Russia took over Ukraine when he was there, it really traumatized him,” Patykewych said. “He fled during the Communist regime.”

Patykewych says his parents moved to Canada in the 1940s, bringing with them their core Ukrainian values in the process.

Those values are something they passed on to him from the time he was a baby.

“They would read the Ukrainian newspaper to me. I did all Ukrainian dancing. They say I couldn’t speak English well until Grade 4. I used to recite Ukrainian poems,” Patykewych claimed. “I am just a totally indoctrinated Ukrainian and I have a total passion for it.

“I want to go to Ukraine.”

Patykewych is starting the process of applying to go provide volunteer support in the country by contacting the Canadian embassy to Ukraine.

He says he is willing to do whatever is needed to provide support to his family’s motherland.

“I’d love to go there regardless, any way I can,” he added.

Visiting Ukraine and understanding his family roots has been an important objective for Patykewych for some time.

Russia’s invasion has only intensified his desire to connect with his heritage.

“I’m devastated. When it initially happened, I cried my eyes out,” he said about the onset of Russia’s attack last Wednesday night. “I just have to kind of catch my breath because it just has felt overwhelming at times.

“In fact, I didn’t really think that it would affect me to the degree that it has, but it has.”

Those interested in volunteering have been advised to contact the Ukrainian embassies in their home countries.

The embassy then will provide information on which documents a person will need, their ability to travel abroad and any experience they may have in military service, law enforcement or combat.

An interview process would then be possible for some people, followed by having their documents verified and visa clearance being discussed.

Those interested in fighting on Ukrainian soil would be admitted to the territorial defence of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a voluntary basis.

Once a person’s application is processed and approved, they should receive instructions on how to get to Ukraine and the things they might need while volunteering for the armed forces.

Patykewych acknowledges that fighting for Ukraine might not be possible given his age, but that hasn’t stopped him from attempting the process to get to the country.

“The idea of this is really important to me,” he said when asked why he wants to go ahead with this. “I was passionate about going to Ukraine before this war broke out. That feeling hasn’t changed.”