Minister Anand announces new Canadian military aid to Ukraine
October 13, 2022
At yesterday’s meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels, Belgium, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced that Canada will provide over $47 million in new military aid to assist Ukraine as it fights for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
This new military aid package includes:
- $15.2 million in equipment from the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) inventory, including 155mm NATO-standard artillery rounds, fuses, and charge bags compatible with M777 howitzer artillery guns. Canada has previously provided M777 howitzer artillery guns to Ukraine and trained Ukrainian personnel in their use;
- additional specialized drone cameras with a value of $15.3 million;
- approximately $2 million to provide satellite communications services to Ukraine government and non-government partners, including critical infrastructure, through a joint project between the DND/CAF, Communications Security Establishment and Telesat; and
- 400,000 pieces of winter clothing for a total of $15 million. This critical winter equipment includes jackets, pants, boots, gloves, and parkas sourced from Canadian companies through the Canadian Commercial Corporation. An additional 100,000 pieces will come from CAF inventory.
Yesterday’s announcement builds on approximately $600 million in military equipment that Canada has donated or committed since February 2022. Canadian military assistance to Ukraine also includes:
- The upcoming deployment of approximately 40 CAF combat engineers to Poland under Operation UNIFIER, announced yesterday by Minister Anand in Warsaw. Canadian combat engineers will train Ukrainian sappers on engineer reconnaissance, the use of explosives for demolition work, and de-mining.
- Canada’s ongoing training mission for new Ukrainian recruits in the United Kingdom, announced in August 2022.
- Canada’s training of Ukrainian personnel in the use of M777 howitzers in a third country.
- Canada’s ongoing training of Ukrainian personnel in the use of armoured combat support vehicles manufactured in, and donated by Canada.
- Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) efforts to transport Ukraine-bound military aid donated by Canada, Allies, and partners. Last month, Minister Anand announced the expansion of Canada’s air mobility operations based in Europe with a third CC-130J Hercules aircraft and additional support personnel based at the RCAF hub in Prestwick, Scotland – thus expanding Canada’s ability to deliver Ukraine-bound military aid.
- Ongoing cybersecurity support.
Canada remains committed to supporting Ukraine to help ensure that its forces are well-equipped, prepared, and able to continue defending their independence against Russia’s invasion.
Quotes
“Canada is resolutely committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion. We are helping our Ukrainian friends by donating equipment, training new recruits, and transporting aid so that they are well-equipped to defend their country. Through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and on a bilateral basis, I remain in close contact with my colleague, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, to understand Ukraine’s most pressing defence needs. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine, in the short and long term.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
Quick facts
- The United States-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) is a forum that sees Ministers of Defence and senior military officials from over 40 countries discuss the ongoing security crisis in Ukraine and coordinate continued support.
- The UDCG has met six times at the ministerial level since it was first convened at Ramstein, Germany, in April 2022. The group was formed to advance collective support efforts for Ukraine, such as de-conflicting of donations, training on NATO standard military equipment and building Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
- Since the start of Operation UNIFIER in September 2015, the CAF has trained over 33,000 Ukrainian military and security personnel in battlefield tactics and advanced military skills. As the mission progressed, much of the direct training undertaken by CAF members transitioned to members of the Security Forces of Ukraine, with Canadians acting as advisors and mentors as well as assisting in the development of courses.
- In August 2022, Canada announced the deployment of up to 225 CAF personnel to a British-led training initiative in the United Kingdom as part of Operation UNIFIER, to train new recruits for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These operations have trained 5,000 Ukrainian personnel so far in the United Kingdom.
- Since late March 2022, RCAF members have been conducting air operations in support of Ukraine, including transporting four million pounds of cargo with CC-130J Hercules aircrafts. Much of this cargo has been military aid from Canada and other nations in support of Ukraine.
- The Canadian Commercial Corporation is Canada’s government-to-government contracting agency and has been a partner for the delivery of in-kind aid to Ukraine. It also acts as a channel for allied governments to make acquisitions from Canada.
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