When Russia invaded Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put out a call to foreigners with combat experience to come and help. Paul Hughes, a former marksman and paratrooper with Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, went. 

Paul has been in Ukraine ever since, where he founded HUGS: Helping Ukraine, Grass Roots Support.

Run out of a garage through donations and volunteers, HUGS mostly helps fix army vehicles and distribute food and supplies to Ukrainians. But when Paul got a call asking him to cross Russian lines to rescue a six-year-old Ukrainian who’d been separated from her mother, he knew he had to accept the mission. 

On this week’s Storylines, CBC reporter Danny Kerslake, an old army buddy of Paul’s, catches up with his friend to hear the story of how Paul risked his own life to save another’s.

Produced by Danny Kerslake. Story editing by John Chipman. Storylines is produced by Acey Rowe.

Storylines is part of the CBC Audio Doc Unit