Russia 1993

International Information

International Operation Name: RUSSIA - 1993

International Mission Name: RUSSIA - 1993

Mandating Organization: Government of Canada

Region Name: Europe

Location: Former Soviet Union; Russia

Mission Date: 20 January 1993 - 18 March 1993

Mandate: To deliver medical supplies to Russia.

Narrative: While the urgency that required Op Boreal had been mitigated, the need for further aid flights to the former Soviet Union was recognized. The Prime Minister promised a donation of $5 million to the Canadian Red Cross to purchase medical supplies for delivery to Russia. Because some of these medicines were time-sensitive, they had to be delivered as quickly as possible after manufacture. Planning for a second series of aid flights – Op BOREAL II – began in November 1992.

On 20 January 1993, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Air Command issued the order to begin Op Boreal II. Between 6 February and 18 March, CC-137 Boeing aircraft departed for Russia on 20 separate flights. Departing CFB Trenton every two days, the flights stopped at Helsinki, Finland on the way to and from Russia for a crew change. Besides the flight crew, each aircraft carried one Russian navigator, a military policeman for security of the plane while in Russia, and a team of five Mobile Air Movements Section personnel to offload the aircraft. Overall they carried 225,000 kilograms of medical supplies to 14 cities.