'I'm eager to go back': northern Ontario soldier enjoying vacation at home from war in Ukraine

Aidan Kazur is looking at his hometown of Kirkland Lake with different eyes this month.

"Everything kind of looks the same, but almost like a dream, where there's a new shop here or there's a little difference here," he said.

The 25-year-old is home in northern Ontario after spending the past year on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.

His mother Kim Kazur says she's relieved to have him home and instead of watching for messages on social media, she's happy to hear the background chatter of online chats coming from his bedroom, "like he had never been gone."

"I have been sleeping much better than I've slept in the past year," she said.

Aidan, who previously served in the Canadian military reserves, felt compelled in July 2024 to sign up to fight for Ukrainian forces, trying to repel the Russian invasion that began in February 2022.

"It's important to me and I think it's important to most Canadians that the good in the world wins and is supported," he said. 

"Anyone who truly wants to make a difference in the world should try their hardest to make a difference, to the best of their abilities."

Kim says it took her about six months to get used to the idea of her son fighting in a war. 

"I was one angry mom. I was not supportive. I cried and cried," she said. "I don't like it, but I'm at least at peace with everything now."

Kim helped raise $26,000 from Kirkland Lake and the surrounding area to buy Aidan's Ukrainian military unit a transport vehicle, with a little leftover for other needs they might have in the weeks ahead.

While he can't share specific details about the work he's doing at the frontline, Aidan says he's very proud of the support Ukrainian soldiers are getting from regular Canadians, as well as the federal government itself.  

"I can't complain too much. I've been pretty proud that it's been a pretty bi-partisan issue here," he said. "I've never been truly worried that someone is going to flip the switch and just stop helping at all."

Aidan says while he's enjoyed seeing family and friends again, and taking a break from communicating with them over social media, he has no doubts about returning to the war in August.