KYIV, UKRAINE -- Fighting for freedom far from home. That鈥檚 where CTV National News finds two Canadians preparing for their second deployment to the front lines in Ukraine.
Connecting with fighters in an active war zone involves trust on both sides. Many soldiers from are concerned their identities and locations will be compromised.
Wary of Russia鈥檚 ability to track their movements and become targets, we鈥檝e agreed to withhold the real names and location in Ukraine where we met two former Canadian Armed Forces members from Montreal.
For our interview, we travel down a muddy, bumpy rural backroad. As we arrive in a wooded area, they reveal their story and their call signs on the battlefield 鈥� Speedy and Tanto.
Both are young men in their twenties. The taller of the two, Tanto, says he decided to come to Ukraine after seeing videos of children on the news crossing the Polish border with only a passport and a teddy bear.
鈥淚 still have the image in my head right now,鈥� he admits.
As for Speedy, he felt it was his duty, saying, 鈥淚 wanted to help fight, help the population.鈥�
His first combat tour in Ukraine lasted six months. For Tanto, it was four months. Both recently returned to Ukraine and reflected on the difficulty they experienced back home.
鈥淲hen I get back to Canada, it鈥檚 really hard to adapt to a normal life after what you鈥檝e seen, [after] what you've done,鈥� says Speedy.
Tanto found it difficult to hold down a regular job, saying it felt like 鈥渘o one really knows what鈥檚 going on in Ukraine.鈥�
Since their return to Ukraine, the two Canadians are now facing another challenging reality.
鈥淎ll of our friends are wounded,鈥� says Speedy.
Tanto shares that many have also died. As he grapples with this tragic reality, he says, 鈥済oing to the hospital and seeing them wounded is really difficult. They have serious shrapnel injuries to their heads and legs.鈥�
Neither are covered by insurance should they get injured, or worse, while on the front lines. Accepting the risks involved, Speedy is at peace with what may or may not come.
鈥淚 know that I can die here, I know I can get wounded,鈥� he says.
Tanto, who shares that he鈥檚 an uncle, says, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to die. I came here to help but I鈥檓 not planning to die, you know. If it happens it happens.鈥�
Neither experienced active combat while with the Canadian military, but that changed once they arrived in Ukraine.
Speedy laments the style of warfare being deployed.
鈥淚t鈥檚 more like World War II,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 trenches, there鈥檚 artillery. It feels like the Russians have infinite ammo. I don鈥檛 know how to explain it. They shell you and shell you. They never stop.鈥�
While serving with several different allied fighter groups, the pair share they鈥檝e uncovered Russian spies within the ranks.
鈥淭hey had a bunch of Russian spies who initially joined. They got caught,鈥� claims Speedy. 鈥淎t one point you know they鈥檙e not legit. They got caught and taken away. We never saw them again.鈥�
At the beginning of the war, it was easy to show up and get deployed, now there鈥檚 much more paperwork, according to the two young Canadians. Each are waiting for their papers to clear this time so they can begin getting paid by the Ukrainian military.
They decline to say how much they鈥檒l make, but Tanto says that without payment 鈥淚鈥檓 not staying. I have to get paid.鈥�
Combined, they estimate they spent about $45,000 buying gear and supporting themselves during their first trip as foreign Canadian fighters. Both say they鈥檙e here for the long haul this time, as long as they can make a living while helping on the battlefront.
Speedy and Tanto, along with a third French Canadian, have launched , a site where people can purchase merchandise. Part of the proceeds will go toward helping their fellow fighters injured in battle.
鈥淲hatever we can give to wounded soldiers to help lift their morale,鈥� says Speedy.
Tanto is concerned that Canadians and the global community will soon turn their gaze away from Ukraine.
鈥淸The war] is still happening everywhere in Ukraine,鈥� he says. 鈥淐hildren are dying, don鈥檛 forget about this war.鈥�
Ottawa says it鈥檚 unknown exactly how many Canadians have travelled to Ukraine to join the fight. It鈥檚 believed at least three Canadians have while fighting in Ukraine over the past year.
