Minister Anand concludes productive visit to Ukraine 

January 18, 2023 – Kyiv, Ukraine – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand concluded a productive visit to Ukraine.

Minister Anand began her day visiting an exhibit of destroyed Russian equipment in St. Michael’s Square in Kyiv. There, she saw first-hand evidence of the success that Ukraine’s Armed Forces are having in pushing back Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion. Alongside Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Minister Anand laid flowers at the Wall of the Remembrance for the Fallen.

The Minister also visited Irpin – a suburb of Kyiv that Russia occupied at the beginning of its further invasion of Ukraine. Minister Anand saw civilian homes and infrastructure destroyed by Russia’s war, including dozens of destroyed cars that once belonged to ordinary families and that were left behind in the evacuation. She reiterated Canada’s strong condemnation of Russia’s barbaric and indiscriminate killings.

In the afternoon, Minister Anand met with Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov for a lengthy and productive meeting, where they discussed the state of the conflict, and how Canada can continue to be most helpful. Alongside Minister Reznikov, Minister Anand announced that Canada will donate 200 Roshel Senator Armoured Personnel Carriers, valued at over $90 million dollars.

This is part of the over $1 billion in military assistance that Canada has committed since February 2022, and over $5 billion that Canada has committed in combined military, financial, humanitarian, and other aid. Canada’s military assistance includes 39 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, a combination of eight commercial pattern armoured vehicles and Senator APCs, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 Howitzers and associated ammunition, and more, which are making a difference in Ukraine’s efforts to defend its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Minister Anand also met with members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces trained by Canada under Operation UNIFIER and visited a hospital where she met with wounded Ukrainian soldiers.  

On this productive visit, Minister Anand reiterated to Defence Minister Reznikov, Ukrainian Armed Forces members, and ordinary Ukrainians, that Canada will continue to support Ukraine in its fight to defend itself, and Canada’s support to Ukraine will remain unwavering.