(Today’s Northumberland file photos)
A Northumberland County man is back in Ukraine fighting for what he believes is the right cause.
Forty-five-year-old James Challice left Cobourg on Monday, February 3, 2025 for the Ukraine for the fourth time.
Challice went over to fight the Russians shortly after they invaded Ukraine.
His first tour was on March 28, 2022 and has been back three other times fighting on the front lines.
This time he will be teaching tactical training.
“Like true Canadians we will give the shirt off our back.”
The first tour Challice said he saw a lot of combat.
“There was a lot of death. A lot of people – good friends.”
“You start to realize when you get down there – shit got real, real quick.”
The second tour, Challice was with a special unit and their job was to “hit major positions including infrastructure and tanks.”
During his last mission, his unit was decimated with only himself and two others surviving.
“We were surrounded for about a day-and-a-half waiting for our ride to come pick us up.”
It was during that encounter Challice and his team in a battle with approximately 40-Russian soldiers.
The reconnaissance the team received on the mission was inaccurate.
“We held them off for a bit and waited for our support – unfortunately our support didn’t stick around, so we ended up getting hit three or four times by tanks and drones.”
Challice said after meeting the Ukraine people – the fight and the will they have for their country, it’s a calling that keeps him going back to help.
“I love the people, I love the country – it matters.”
Challice said this mission will be training Ukraine soldiers about new technology that is made in Canada.
Unfortunately Challice said, private companies seem to be doing more than the Canadian government.
“There are a lot of Ukranian-Canadian engineers that are making products. The faster you can get counter measures, like drone technology and the faster you can get them using it – seems to be the game right now.”
New technology like AI (artificial intelligence) and guidance system that is quickly being developed.
“The first start of the war was head on, now it’s turning into you can’t hide at night, you can’t hide anywhere. War has become about deception, divide, sacrifice and conquer.”
With drone technology, there is really no need for long range missiles.
“Everybody and their dog is going to have a drone in their hand in the next 15-20 years.”
There are so many drones in the sky in parts of Ukraine they are called “angry birds.”
At this point, Challice said his job will be to get a group of soldiers into a position and out of the position safely.
Training will likely take up to two-months to train before going to the front lines.
Challice said he can’t say who has the technology in Canada, but added, “a lot of influential people have given up and lost their jobs with the Canadian military or government to help out in anyway they can.”
Being on the front lines at the start of the war, Challice said he was ashamed at what Canada was sending to Ukraine.
“They sent a lot of equipment. A lot of it was broken night vision.”
The Canadian government sent, “boxes and boxes of training tourniquets.”
“The problem was, these guys had no idea what they were and were using them as tourniquets.”
When you twisted them, they’d break.
Another time the Canadian government sent socks and winter gear.
“Well they don’t understand, Ukraine doesn’t have much of a winter. And if they want socks, you can go to a local store in Kiev and get a pair.”
With President Trump saying he will end the war, Challice said he believes it will only be temporary and give Russia a chance to restock their armories.
“You look at the history of Putin and what he’s done. Syria, Chechnya, he’s never been without a conflict.”
“Trump doing a deal with Putin probably won’t solve the problem – it will just prolong it.”
As it stands now, cities have been destroyed, there are improvised explosive devices everywhere.
“It’s a disaster.”
During the first part of the war, both sides suffered heavy casualties, but with Russia using North Koreans, criminals, young conscripts from different counties, “their military power is pretty strong.”
“But they also thought they were going to take Kiev in two-weeks.”
Challice said Ukraine has come together and fought the Russians coming up to three years.
“I don’t think anyone is winning right now. I do know that Russia is gaining a bit of ground and they do have one thing on their side which is time.”
“They’ve always had time on their side – they don’t have to win the war right away.”
Even since the start of the war, the drone technology has completely changed.
Toy drones were dropping a grenades that would “take out” a person and now a drone can carry 2.2 kilograms of explosives that will destroy a tank.
A drone used by the Canadian or US military could cost $30,000, but they can make their own for $400.
With the drones being made out of 3-D printers and the motors coming from another county they are cheap and cost effective.
“With the amount of impact they have – It’s not really about quality anymore, it’s about quantity and how fast you can get them out.”
“It’s an eye-opener for every military. Militaries are under the assumption that you need a $250,000 rocket to take out a tank. Now they’re using a $600 drone with some old C-4 from the Soviet era.”
When he was there at the start of the war he said it was “chaos.”
“Explosions everywhere. Every second of the day on the front lines. On reconnaissance missions we were counting 500 of their rounds to our 20.”
“A lot of Ukranian’s in Canada are seeing their heritage destroyed – that’s what Russia does.”
Challice estimates he will be in Ukraine for at least a month, but things could change.
“The mission is specific, so I’ll be there for a reason and we’ll see what happens.”
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
