Settlement

I used to live in Mariupol, Ukraine before Russian invasion in Ukraine in the winter 2022. After the city was captured by Russians, I together with my mother and nephew made decision to move in the temporary shelter to my brother that lives in other region. For several month, I was being in desperation. One time I saw an article on the Internet that was revealing opportunities of immigration to Canada. In the article was a link for the web site of Canadian Government so I unconsciously started to review materials that offered to tap a link for filling a questionnaire for getting visa. It is called visitor visa or CUAET (abbreviation is following - Canadian Ukrainian Authorisation for Emergency Travel). I started to fill that questionnaire, it was quite long, after some time I got tired and almost wanted to quit but something forced me to finish and send the questionnaire. I always try to lead meters until the end otherwise I experience heart wrenching feelings. So in a couple days I got an answer from the Canadian immigration service to pass fingerprints and photo in person. It was unexpected; before that time, I had never dreamed to live in Canada as I was happy to live at my native home and application for getting a visa was not sent on purpose.

I could not explain what forces guided me, but I made a decision to attend the nearest representative office of Canadian embassy and pass my finger prints. Again in a couple days I got visa’s approval and where was said I had to get SJTD (single journey travel document) to enter Canada not later six month after the date of its issue. When I got this document I returned back to my home, for next 5 month I had been doing repairs to leave mother as home was partly damaged. Before 1 week of the finishing of term of SJTD I ordered tickets to fly to Canada. As the east and south parts of Ukraine was occupied the only exit from occupied territories was through Russian airports. On the 18th of November 22 I arrived in Sochi international airport for my night flight. All was going well but something unexpected happened. Russian immigration service as well as the transporter ‘Aeroflot’ refused to recognise SJTD and did not allow me to proceed for the plane boarding. As a result, SJTD was expired and money for tickets lost. That time I just wanted to tear out my hair. Was a feeling that I trapped and all was over.

Some time after I made the decision to try to leave that territories again. I was in very tight contact with the Canadian embassy in Moskow. They issued a new SJTD, promised to take care about safety route and strongly recommended to use Turkish airlines to fly to Canada though Istanbul international airport but warn that no guarantees for success and all risks to be born on me. So I arrived in Domodedovo airport, Moskow and was waiting for my flight to Istanbul, when time came I proceeded to the counter of Turkish airlines to register for the flight. Operator started to check my SJTD and said,”What is this?”... She asked me to wait and during that time my heart merely did not jump out of my chest. I quickly sent a message to the Embassy that I’m waiting for a reply from the transporter regarding an allowance for my boarding. When the operator came back, she said to proceed to another counter where my boarding was confirmed.