A steady flow of citizen soldiers from Windsor has been deploying overseas to join the Canadian-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia, as Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine continues to shape global security dynamics. These reservists, who balance civilian lives with military service, recently returned home after completing their mission along Russia's Baltic border.
Personal Tragedy Amidst NATO Deployment
For Windsor Regiment soldiers serving in Latvia as part of Canada's NATO commitment, the multinational mission took on profound personal significance last summer when they received tragic news. A group of reservists who had volunteered for overseas deployment learned that one of their former comrades had been killed while fighting in Ukraine.
Paul Obara, known as 'Hugo' to his military colleagues, was a Polish-Canadian dual citizen who had served as a corporal with the Windsor Regiment. When not in uniform, Obara worked as a bartender at Caesars Windsor and other local establishments. He had joined the local reservists in 2019, was well-respected and liked among his peers, and had requested release from service in 2024.
A Shock to Fellow Soldiers
"It was a shock," Corporal Ryan Jacquel told reporters about learning of Obara's death while serving in Latvia with the Canadian Armed Forces. "It's one thing when you hear about these things in the news... but then it's one of your buddies."
Fellow soldiers initially believed Obara planned to return to Poland and join the military there after his release from the Windsor Regiment. It wasn't until after news of his death in July that they discovered he had actually joined one of the international units fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders.
Memorial Service in Latvia
The Windsor Regiment contingent serving in Latvia at the time organized a memorial service attended by other NATO soldiers, including members of the Polish Armed Forces. The Windsor Regiment Association commemorated Obara in a Facebook post that has been shared hundreds of times, stating: "His final deployment was a labor of love for a cause he believed in."
One commenter added: "He went to help others in a country that wasn't his own... the most selfless act of sacrifice." Due to privacy and security considerations, no obituary was published, and details surrounding Obara's military service in Ukraine and the circumstances of his death remain limited.
Canadian Casualties in the Conflict
While exact figures haven't been officially reported, thousands of foreign fighters from across the globe are known to have joined Ukraine's military defenders. According to a report last month by Kyiv Post citing Global Affairs Canada, at least 26 Canadians have died in the conflict that began with Russia's full-scale invasion four years ago. Not all died in combat, and it remains unknown whether Obara is included in that reported tally.
Broader NATO Context
Beyond Russian leader Vladimir Putin's current designs on Ukraine, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to which Canada belongs, views Russia as an expansionist military threat to its members, particularly Latvia and two neighboring Baltic states that were once Soviet republics. The 2022 invasion and Putin's continued aggression resulted in both nearby Finland and Sweden ending decades of neutrality and joining the NATO alliance.
The Windsor soldiers' experience highlights how global conflicts create personal connections for military personnel serving abroad, even as they stand watch along tense borders far from home.
