Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Where would you flee to if war came to us ?

632 replies

wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 20:37

Sorry really not wanting to sound alarmist. But just pondering on the thought of which country we could seek refuge in, should the worst happen?

Our European neighbours would be out, as they'll have their own issues.

So where could we go ? Interesting to think about with all that's going on and how the general public view refugees...

OP posts:
BrieAndChilli · 26/02/2022 20:53

Our problem is we can’t just walk over the border to other countries! Can’t just load up our cars and drive as far as we can go. We would only have limited boats and planes which would probably be stopped in a full scale war scenario.

Mumofsend · 26/02/2022 20:53

I have American family but they are in Los Angeles so pretty useless for a safe haven

Original poster
wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 20:54

@umberellaonesie

I could go to Australia or New Zealand easily for work but not sure how easy it would be to get there from here during an invasion
You'd really have to try to pick your moment. Before the invasion. Say if Putin starts more threats towards Baltic countries... if Ukraine falls and then starts seeming like they might be heading to the Balkans. You get out.

Rather than wait until they have 100 k troops on Poland's door step..

OP posts:
Whydoesthecatalwaysdothat · 26/02/2022 20:55

I've been thinking this. What a horrible thought though.

I feel so sorry for all the people who are leaving their homes. My biggest worry would be the pets.

KaptainKaveman · 26/02/2022 20:55

Canada. I have citizenship.

Original poster
wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 20:56

@TheNinny

The U.S. as I’m a dual citizen and have family there. But only if they’d take DH and DD in as dependents. But that’s assuming I could get on flight somehow. If not, I’d stay put. We live really rurally so not sure how that would play out in a war situation. Otherwise Ireland or a Scandi country….but it’s the getting there that’s the issue.
But the US would also be involved. They'd be a target too.

So no point in going there. No point in going to any of our European neighbours either.

OP posts:
WeDontTalkAboutBrunoNoNoNo · 26/02/2022 20:56

I'd be heading straight for Jamaica

apprenticewage · 26/02/2022 20:56

I actually this thread is quite a ridiculous question, ppl don't have a choice ffs, you go to the closest, safest place! Their not sitting there contemplating like they are at a travel agents and neither would you. You do what is right at the time...easiest, safest place. End of...

Original poster
wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 20:57

@apprenticewage

I actually this thread is quite a ridiculous question, ppl don't have a choice ffs, you go to the closest, safest place! Their not sitting there contemplating like they are at a travel agents and neither would you. You do what is right at the time...easiest, safest place. End of...
Eh actually that's exactly what I'm wondering about. Where would be the safest place ?
OP posts:
apprenticewage · 26/02/2022 20:58

They're not their

Grumpsy · 26/02/2022 20:58

I’d go to Mauritius - can’t really see them getting involved

ExactlyThis · 26/02/2022 20:59

We have friends in Devon so would go there as in London. Couldn’t go anywhere else, well except Spain as family there. So Devon or Spain I guess.

apprenticewage · 26/02/2022 20:59

There is none....not when it's to that extent..

cakewench · 26/02/2022 20:59

USA I suppose, as I am originally from there.

And I see you've said that they would be in the 'same boat' as we are here, however that boat is very physically far away and they'd have their hands full already if they'd decided to take on all of Europe as well. Moving 100's of thousands of troops over land is a different kettle of fish to moving them across oceans. I'm not saying they wouldn't do it, but given the trillions the US spends on its military, they wouldn't have an easy go of it. Even the local police forces are militarised to an extent we almost never see in Europe. And of course, there's the heavily armed civilian population.

So yes, it's not ideal but it's probably where I'd go for a last stand Sad

MushroomCat · 26/02/2022 20:59

The Scottish islands? Grin we wouldn't be able to go anywhere if it was full scale world war 3, they'd need to go through Ukraine and the neighbouring countries to get to us.

GeodesicDome · 26/02/2022 20:59

I'm not going anywhere. I'm a born collaborator.

BigUpAllOfUshereOnMN · 26/02/2022 21:00

This has crossed my mind too. I wouldn't have the money to relocate and rent somewhere remote whilst still paying bills for the house. So my best bet would be to board up the windows and secure the doors and stockpile food.

WaterBottle123 · 26/02/2022 21:01

We've haven't been invaded since 1066. We are lucky as fuck to live on a rich island.

EmpressSuiko · 26/02/2022 21:02

If things were getting that serious then South Africa

Original poster
wheretogoif · 26/02/2022 21:02

@cakewench

USA I suppose, as I am originally from there.

And I see you've said that they would be in the 'same boat' as we are here, however that boat is very physically far away and they'd have their hands full already if they'd decided to take on all of Europe as well. Moving 100's of thousands of troops over land is a different kettle of fish to moving them across oceans. I'm not saying they wouldn't do it, but given the trillions the US spends on its military, they wouldn't have an easy go of it. Even the local police forces are militarised to an extent we almost never see in Europe. And of course, there's the heavily armed civilian population.

So yes, it's not ideal but it's probably where I'd go for a last stand Sad

Yeah you're right. It just crossed my mind that it would be really difficult to simultaneously be invading the whole of Europe and the USA as well.

Unless they just nuke the US. I just think none of the counties in nato would be safe to flee to.

OP posts:
OfstedOffred · 26/02/2022 21:02

We have family in the US and Australia, if we could get there. Family properties in france & Spain easier to reach, although we both have jobs where a move to the states would be easy to coordinate.

Campervangirl · 26/02/2022 21:02

I'm heading to the front line if they have a use for an arsey, menopausal 50 something female.
I'm serious, if the ordinary citizens of the Ukraine can stand up against the might of Russia we can too.

elp30 · 26/02/2022 21:03

@KaptainKaveman

Canada. I have citizenship.

Canada is a NATO member so that country could also be a target.

For me, I could go to Mexico but my husband and children couldn't so I'd stay put.

bellac11 · 26/02/2022 21:03

@apprenticewage

I actually this thread is quite a ridiculous question, ppl don't have a choice ffs, you go to the closest, safest place! Their not sitting there contemplating like they are at a travel agents and neither would you. You do what is right at the time...easiest, safest place. End of...
It isnt ridiculous at all, people can claim asylum anywhere, although the practicalities of this is obviously more difficult than that
FinnulaFloss · 26/02/2022 21:03

We live on an island.

If Putin manages to make his way through all the rest of Europe first, by the time he gets here there won't be anywhere TO go or any way to leave.

Swipe left for the next trending thread