(Listen to full update from Freeland, Anand & Sajjan above)
Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand says we are sending 1,600 fragmentation protective vests and roughly 400,000 meal packs to Ukraine in the latest announcement of aid for the country as the Russian invasion continues.
She made the announcement alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan today.
(Listen to Anand’s announcement above)
Anand outlined Canada’s contributions to the country so far, saying “I think about it in three tranches. Tranche one– in the last few weeks we announced approximately $10 million worth of lethal and non-lethal aid, ranging from sniper rifles, carbines, pistols, body armour and 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, all of which arrived before February 22nd. Tranche two—On February 27th we announced that we would provide assistance, additional non-lethal assistance in the amount of $25 million specifically, protective goggles, helmets, bulletproof vests and gas masks. February 28th, (yesterday) we confirmed that we will send even more lethal aid to our friends in Ukraine in the form of 100 Carl-Gustaf anti-armour weapon systems as well as related accessories and scopes and 2,000 rounds of 84mm ammunition to go with them. Transit—on February 27th we also approved additional airlift supporting the form of CC-130s and up to 50 Canadian Armed Forces Personnel who will offer the transportation of good and personnel in support of the Government of Canada and NATO efforts writ large in Europe. The first such flight left for Europe yesterday and the second is leaving today.”
Today, Anand confirmed in addition to the three tranches of bi-lateral support Canada will also be providing 1,600 fragmentation vests and just under 400,000 individual meal packs to Ukraine.
“These are items that have been requested and that we are providing,” says Anand.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said today, Canada will ban Russian-owned or registered ships from Canadian waters and from our ports.
Meanwhile, International development minister Harjit Sajjan announced $100 million dollars to help the people of Ukraine through the UN Humanitarian Flash Appeal and the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Ukraine,
Five people were reportedly killed in a Russian strike on a TV tower in Kyiv today.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says “Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget,” after Russian forces pounded the city of Kharkiv with artillery yesterday. Zelensky has described it as ‘undisguised terror.’
Meanwhile, satellite imaging shows a Russian military convoy 60 kms long outside Kyiv. Over half a million people have left Ukraine.
