‘Don’t want to fight’: Ukrainians abroad slam plan to deny embassy services
Al Jazeera
Short on soldiers to fight Russia, Kyiv says it will suspend consular access to military-age men outside Ukraine.
Names marked with an asterisk have been changed to protect identities.
Warsaw, Poland – When Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Kyrylo, an IT specialist in Poland, rushed to evacuate his parents from Kyiv. Since then, he has been the family’s main breadwinner.
To support Ukraine from across the border, he makes donations and buys Starlink satellite-internet kits in Europe for volunteers back in his homeland. Although he is guilt-stricken living abroad, he feels joining the army would not help the war effort.
“If the army could guarantee that my work would be aligned with my skills and knowledge, I would go back. I could help with drones and other technology. But getting a rifle and shooting would not be the most efficient way of utilising my skills,” said the 35-year-old, who requested to withhold his last name.
He has lived abroad since 2015, long before Russia’s war began. During that time, he also became a father; his daughter is now six.
