Canadians in Russia who hold dual citizenship should leave the country immediately or risk being drafted into compulsory military service, the Government of Canada warned in an updated travel advisory Sept. 29.
The updated advisory comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin executes a partial military mobilization that could see up to 300,000 citizens and reservists sent to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine. It echoes a similar warning issued by the US government on September 27.
“Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Russia,” reads the Canadian travel advisory, adding that Russian authorities may choose to consider anyone with dual citizenship a Russian citizen and deny them access. to Canadian consular services.
“You may also be subject to certain legal obligations, including military service. You can be detained, imprisoned or heavily fined if you try to avoid military service,” the notice warns.
For Canadians still in Russia, getting out may be more difficult than at any time since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Since Putin announced the partial military mobilization on September 21, flight availability, which was already limited, has become even more scarce. Many flights are fully booked for the coming weeks. Any Canadians still in Russia should leave while commercial flights are still available, warns Ottawa.
“You should not depend on the Government of Canada to help you leave the country,” reads the federal travel advisory.
After suffering heavy battlefield casualties in Ukraine’s latest counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, the Kremlin has struggled to replenish its troops there. The Associated Press reports that she even resorted to recruiting inmates.
On Friday, Putin further escalated the war by signing treaties to illegally annex four partially occupied Ukrainian territories, to which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by submitting an accelerated application for NATO membership.
“We are taking a decisive step by signing Ukraine’s application for accelerated NATO membership,” Zelenskyy said in a September 30 speech. “We are completing the dismantling of Russian influence on Ukraine, Europe and the world.”
With files from The Associated press