Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

International Security

On this page

Support for Ukraine

  • Canada is working closely with our Allies and partners to help Ukraine protect its sovereignty and defend itself against Putin’s illegal attack.
  • That is why we have committed $626 million in military aid since February 2022.
  • This includes heavy artillery, drone cameras, body armour, satellite imagery, ammunition, and other highly specialized equipment.
  • Additionally, we have committed to supplying Ukraine with 39 brand-new armoured combat support vehicles.
  • We have also resumed training under Operation UNIFIER, through which we have already trained over 33,000 members of Ukraine’s security forces.
  • We continue to analyze options to provide further aid to support Ukraine in meaningful ways and will continue to communicate our support to Canadians.

If pressed on tracking military aid provided to Ukraine:

  • National Defence has signed a declaration with Ukraine's Armed Forces that all weapons provided will not be transferred to any other entity.

If pressed on the provision of further military aid:

  • Canada stands with Ukraine and we are exploring a variety of options to continue providing Ukraine with comprehensive military assistance.
  • Since early in the conflict, Canada has joined the Coalition Air Bridge by committing two tactical aircraft in support of Canada, our allies, and partners’ efforts to deliver important donations to Ukraine.
  • Given operational security concerns, we cannot discuss further specifics at this time.

Key Facts

  • $626 million in military aid committed to Ukraine, including all of the $500 million announced in Budget 2022 for new purchases and over $50M in donations.
  • Military Aid Provided since February 2022
    • Military equipment requested by Ukraine, including body armour, gas masks, helmets, and other highly specialized pieces of military equipment
    • Anti-armour weapons systems and rocket launchers
    • Almost 400,000 individual meal packs
    • Small arms and ammunition
    • Heavy artillery, including M777 Howitzers and related ammunition
    • Drone cameras
    • High-resolution satellite imagery
  • Military Equipment provided from 2015 to January 2022 includes body armour, mobile field hospital, communications gear, and explosive disposal equipment.

Details

  • Report to Parliament on Actions Taken to Support Ukraine:
    • In response to an April 2022 unanimous consent motion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs tabled a report on Government of Canada actions to support Ukraine on August 17, 2022.
    • In addition to outlining military aid, the report also provides an overview of economic aid and efforts to track crimes against humanity and war crimes to ensure that Russia is held accountable.
    • National Defence continues to provide an updated list of Canadian military support to Ukraine on the National Defence website.
  • Donation of Armoured Vehicles:
    • Parliamentarians have expressed an interest through Question Period and House Committees regarding providing Ukraine with divested military vehicles including Bison, Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles, and Coyotes.
    • On April 26, 2022, Minister Anand announced that Canada finalized a contract for the purchase of eight commercial pattern armoured vehicles manufactured by Roshel, a smart armoured vehicle company based in Mississauga, Ontario.
    • Additionally, in early August 2022, Canada finalized a procurement contract to supply Ukraine with 39 armoured combat support vehicles. The contract with General Dynamics also includes elements for repairs and servicing.

Back to top

Operation UNIFIER (Ukraine)

  • Canada will continue to help empower Ukrainians with the skills they need to defend their nation’s freedom and independence.
  • That is why we are deploying up to 225 personnel to the United Kingdom to train new Ukrainian military recruits under Operation UNIFIER.
  • The Canadian-led courses will focus on weapons handling, battlefield first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics, and the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • This builds on our past efforts through Operation UNIFIER where we trained well over 33,000 members of Ukraine’s security forces.
  • Alongside our Allies, we will continue to provide high quality training to Ukraine.

Key Facts

  • Mandate for Operation UNIFIER extended to March 31, 2025.
  • On August 4, 2022 Canada announced resumption of large scale training through Operation UNIFIER.
    • Up to 225 Canadian Armed Forces personnel will deploy to the United Kingdom.
      • The first of up to three training cohorts, consisting of approximately 90 soldiers, will be largely drawn from 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based out of Edmonton, Alberta.
  • Since the launch of Operation UNIFIER in 2015, the Canadian Armed Forces have trained more than 33,000 Ukrainian personnel through over 700 course serials.

Details

  • In 2015, Canada launched Operation UNIFIER in response to requests from the government of Ukraine, with the intent to help Ukraine remain free, sovereign, secure, and stable.
  • The mission was renewed in 2017, 2019, and most recently in January 2022, through to March 2025.
  • The Canadian Armed Forces has been providing Ukrainian security forces with specialized training in order to support their professionalization, to help improve their capability and capacity, and to assist them in their efforts to align with NATO standards and practices.
  • Activities included advising and assisting with: unit- and brigade-level tactical training; combat engineer training such as improvised explosive device disposal and explosive ordnance disposal; sniper training; reconnaissance training; and medical training. Training activities also included Ukrainian junior officers and non-commissioned officer personnel development initiatives in various schools and academies.
  • The Canadian Armed Forces coordinates its efforts with the United States and other countries that support Ukraine in similar ways. The training mission harmonizes its efforts with other nations through a Multinational Joint Commission (MJC). The MJC includes Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, Slovakia and Sweden.
  • National Defence also provides institutional level support to help advance Ukraine’s defence reform process. Current support is focused on:
    • Defence governance, including command and control;
    • Professional development and professional military education reform;
    • Defence procurement; and,
    • Defence policy.
  • All Canadian Armed Forces members who deploy on capacity building programs, including Operation UNIFIER, are trained to recognize symbols associated with right-wing extremism. If counterparts or trainees are suspected of holding racist views or belonging to right-wing extremist elements, they are removed immediately.
  • In 2021, Operation UNIFIER saw the first ever Canadian female-to-female transfer of command authority.
  • Aspects of the mission were temporarily paused following the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with a commitment to resume training when and where conditions permitted.

Back to top

Operation REASSURANCE

  • Canada remains strongly committed to its partnership with NATO Allies and to reinforcing our support for NATO’s Eastern Flank.
  • That is why the Minister of National Defence signed a joint declaration with her Latvian counterpart in June to further strengthen the enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia.
  • Through this declaration, Canada will continue to lead NATO forces as the framework nation for Latvia.
  • We will also work with our Allies to generate and stage forces in order to surge to a multi-national combat capable brigade.
  • We are also making important naval contributions to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Group 1, and supporting air policing missions over Romania.
  • In fact, we have approximately 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving on Operation REASSURANCE, our largest international operation.
  • We will continue to work with our NATO Allies to enhance collective security and to promote peace and stability around the world.

If pressed on a no-fly zone over Ukraine:

  • Canada and our NATO Allies have a responsibility to prevent this war from escalating beyond Ukraine, which would be even more dangerous and devastating.
  • The establishment and enforcement of a no-fly zone could risk triggering a larger international conflict with Russia.
  • We will continue working with our Allies to support Ukraine through other contributions.

Key Facts

  • June 29, 2022: The Minister of National Defence signed a joint declaration with the Latvian Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence, to augment NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence Latvia. Going forward, Canada will:
    • Continue to lead NATO forces as the Framework Nation of Latvia;
    • Work with Latvia and NATO Allies to generate and stage forces in order to surge to a combat capable brigade;
    • Establish and lead elements of a forward brigade command and control;
    • Be prepared to provide critical capabilities to operations, such as ammunition and explosives, air defence systems, and anti- tank weapons systems.
  • Enhanced Forward Presence Latvia: The battle group is comprised of a mechanized infantry company, an artillery battery, a combat support company, and a combat service support company.
  • Air Task Force Romania: CF-18s are currently deployed as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission, and two additional aircraft have been temporarily deployed for concurrent NATO training activities.
  • Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 1: HMCS Kingston and HMCS Summerside are currently serving on a four month deployment in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic region as part of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One.

Details

  • Following Russia’s invasion of Crimea, NATO Allies agreed at the 2016 Summit in Warsaw to establish an enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) in the eastern part of the Alliance, in order to strengthen deterrence measures. These Battle Groups form part of the biggest reinforcement of NATO’s collective defence in a generation.
  • As the Framework Nation for eFP in Latvia, Canada is leading a ten-nation multinational battle group. Canada is also responsible for coordinating with Latvia and the contributing nations to help set the tone, pace and vision for this Battle Group, and providing support that better allows multinational eFP to come together and integrate as a single entity.
  • Battle Group Latvia (Enhanced Forward Presence):
    • The Canadian component of the eFP Battle Group is comprised of a mechanized infantry company, an artillery battery, a combat support company, and a combat service support company.
    • The eFP Battle Group works within the Latvian Armed Forces’ infantry brigade, conducting joint training to be able to respond effectively to an attack and remains a tangible reminder that an attack against one NATO member is an attack against all members.
    • Canada has also committed a Canadian Armed Forces general officer and six staff officers to Multinational Division North, NATO’s Divisional Headquarters supporting the eFP–Battle Group.
    • On June 29, 2022, the Minister of National Defence signed a joint declaration with the Latvian Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence, to augment NATOs enhanced Forward Presence Latvia. Standing Naval Forces (Standing NATO Maritime Groups).
    • Since 2014, the CAF have deployed a warship on a persistent rotational basis to be employed for exercises and operational tasks in the NATO Maritime Command’s areas of responsibility.
    • Two Royal Canadian Navy ships, HMCS Kingston and Summerside deployed in June to support Standing NATO Mine Countermeasure Group 1.
  • Royal Canadian Air Force-Tactical Airlift Detachment:
    • Since February 2022, the CAF has provided two C-130J tactical airlift aircraft, and a team of 40-50 personnel, to support military aid donations within Europe.
    • They are assisting with the delivery of aid within Europe and have transported over three and a half million pounds of military donations on behalf of our Allies and partners to Ukraine.
  • Air Task Force – Romania:
    • The CAF currently has six CF-18s conducting 24/7 Air Policing missions, and two additional aircraft temporarily deployed for concurrent NATO training activities.
    • The Air Task Force (ATF) is comprised of approximately 170 personnel, including air and ground crews, as well as operations and logistical support personnel.
    • Under NATO command and control, the ATF conducts surveillance of Romanian and allied airspace, trains with their NATO counterparts, and if required, intercepts, identifies and/or escorts aircraft that enter the Romanian Air Defence Identification Zone.
  • Task Force Poland:
    • In early 2022, following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, CAF members provided support to the reception centres for Ukrainian refugees in Poland (operated by the Polish Territorial Defence Force). Health Services provided primary care to more than 2,700 patients, CAF Chaplains provided spiritual support to more than 5,800 refugees, and CAF translators provided linguistic support to over 30,000 Ukrainians.
    • As the situation on the ground stabilized, CAF support to the reception centres in Poland ended and CAF members returned to Canada.

Back to top

CAF Operations in the Indo-Pacific

  • Canada is committed to a sustained and persistent military presence in the Indo-Pacific to promote peace and security with Allies and partners.
  • That is why we deployed HMCS Winnipeg and Vancouver to the Indo-Pacific through Operation PROJECTION.
  • Each Frigate, composed of approximately 230 highly trained sailors, will work with partner nations to enhance military cooperation.
  • During their deployment, these frigates will also support Operation NEON, Canada’s contribution to the implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea.
  • Canada will continue working with its Allies and partners to help ensure regional stability and support the rules-based international order.

If pressed on PLAAF Buzzing RCAF Aircraft:

  • Our top priority in all operations is to ensure the safety of Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
  • We are concerned with the increasing frequency of the unsafe and unprofessional actions of Chinese aircraft.
  • These actions do not adhere to international air safety norms and put the safety of Canadian personnel at risk.
  • We are working closely with Global Affairs Canada and we are addressing our concerns through military and diplomatic channels.

Key Facts

  • HMCS Winnipeg and Vancouver are deployed to the Indo-Pacific region on Operation PROJECTION from August 4 to December 5, 2022, to conduct forward naval presence operations in the region as well as conduct cooperative deployments and participate in international naval exercises with partner nations.
  • April 23, 2021: Canada announced the renewal of its contribution to the multinational surveillance initiative, for another two year timeframe until 2023, under Operation NEON to counter North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion.

Details

  • Operation PROJECTION:
    • As part of Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada committed to being a reliable player in the Indo-Pacific region through consistent engagement and strong partnerships.
    • Since 2017, the Royal Canadian Navy has achieved consistent presence in the Indo-Pacific under Op PROJECTION.
    • Canadian warships regularly deploy to work with our allies and like- minded partners, including by conducting joint transits and exercises under Op PROJECTION, as well as contributing to the multinational effort of monitoring UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea under Op NEON.
    • From June 29 to August 4, 2022, HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver, along with two CP-140 Aurora aircraft and two CH-148 Cyclone helicopters, participated in RIMPAC, the world’s largest naval exercise. Canada also occupied key leadership positions, including Deputy Command of Combined Task Force RIMPAC, Command of the Combined Force Air Component, and Deputy Command of the Combined Force Maritime Component Command.
  • Operation NEON:
    • Op NEON is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated multinational effort to support the implementation of UN Security Council sanctions imposed against North Korea. These sanctions, imposed between 2006 and 2017, aim to pressure North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and respond to North Korean nuclear weapon tests and ballistic missile launches.
    • Op NEON sees military ships, aircraft and personnel deployed to conduct surveillance operations to identify suspected maritime sanctions evasion activities, in particular ship-to-ship transfers of fuel and other commodities banned by the United Nations Security Council Resolutions. This contribution bolsters the integrity of the global sanctions regime against North Korea, enhances regional peace and stability, and supports the rules-based international order.
  • Interactions with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Aircraft:
    • On several occasions, interactions occurred between our Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft and aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
    • These interactions occurred in international airspace during UN- sanctioned missions.
  • Transit in the Indo-Pacific:
    • HMCS Winnipeg transited the Taiwan Strait northbound with the US Destroyer, USS Dewy, on October 15, 2021.
    • From August 4 to December 5 2022, HMCS Winnipeg and HMCS Vancouver will travel extensively throughout the Western pacific, including the South China Sea.

Back to top

Page details

Date modified: