The Government of Canada is warning Canadians in Russia who hold dual citizenship to leave the country immediately or risk being forced into military service, the Government of Canada warned in an updated travel notice on Thursday. September 29.
The updated advice comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a partial military maneuver that could see up to 300,000 citizens and military reservists sent to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine. It echoes a similar warning published by the US government on September 27.
“Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Russia,” reads the Canadian travel advisor, adding that Russian authorities can choose to treat anyone with dual citizenship as a Russian citizen and deny them access to services. Canadian consular service.
“You may also be subject to certain legal obligations, including military service. You could be detained, imprisoned or fined a large amount of money if you try to evade military service,” the advice warns.
For Canadians still in Russia, retreating could be more difficult than at any time since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Since Putin announced the troop deployment. Partially on September 21, the ability to fly, which was already limited, became more scarce. Many flights were fully booked weeks in advance. Ottawa warned that any Canadians still in Russia should leave while commercial flights are still operating, Ottawa warned.
“You should not depend on the Government of Canada to help you leave the country,” the federal travel advisory writes.
After facing massive losses on the battlefield amid Ukraine’s latest counterattack in the Kharkiv region, the Kremlin has struggled to replenish its troops there. The Associated Press reported that they even had to recruit prisoners.
On Friday, Putin escalated the war further by signing treaties to illegally annex four partially occupied Ukrainian territories, to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by applying to join NATO. .
“We are taking our decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application to join NATO,” Zelenskyy said in a speech on September 30. “We are completing the eradication of the influence of Ukraine. Russia to Ukraine, Europe and the world.”
With files from The Related press
