Operation UNIFIER

Operation UNIFIER is the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) mission to support the Security Forces of Ukraine. The operation’s focus is to assist with security force training. This will help them improve and build their capability and capacity. The CAF coordinates its efforts with the U.S. and other countries that support in the same way. Military training is one part of Canada’s overall support to Ukraine.

The CAF launched Operation UNIFIER in response to requests from the Government of Ukraine. The intent is to help Ukraine remain sovereign, secure, and stable.

The training mission harmonizes its efforts with other nations through a Multinational Joint Commission. This commission includes Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark and Sweden. Canada became a member in January 2015. It co-chairs the Sub-Committee on Military Policing with Ukraine.

Update:

As announced on March 26, 2020, the number of Canadian Armed Forces personnel joining Operation UNIFIER was reduced due to COVID-19 considerations. In April, approximately 60 of the 200 members planned for this deployment rotated in, while the remaining 140 remained in Canada on high readiness.

Protecting against COVID-19 remains a CAF priority, and every precaution is being taken to ensure the safety of our members, partners, and the local population. Following a reassessment of the situation, including an analysis of force health protection measures and the risk posed by COVID-19, the decision was made to deploy another 90 of these members. These personnel deployed in June 2020, and observed a 14-day isolation period on arrival in Ukraine. On completion of this isolation period, they resumed their mission of supporting the Security Forces of Ukraine.

How many people are deployed?

Canada sends a group of about 200 CAF members to Ukraine every six months. CAF members will be there until the end of March 2022. They come from all parts of Canada. They are selected based on the skills that they bring to the training program.

What are they doing?

As of March 1^st, 2020, more than 17,310 Security Forces of Ukraine (SFU) candidates have participated in the training provided via 403 course serials spanning all lines of effort since the start of the mission in September 2015. This number includes members of the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU). To date, the CAF has provided training to 1,129 members of the NGU

The CAF’s primary focus in Ukraine is to build the Security Forces of Ukraine’s capacities to enable enduring reforms. This includes:

providing mentorship and guidance to Ukrainian personnel
supporting the development of individual and collective training
military engineering and explosive device disposal training
military police training including use of Force and Basic Investigative Techniques courses
medical training that provides casualty evacuation and combat first aid training

The training takes place at several locations across western and central Ukraine, including:

the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre (IPSC) in Starychi
201^st Engineer Training Centre and the Demining Centre in Kamianets-Podilskyi
205^th Tactical Medical Training Centre in Desna
25^th Military Police Training Centre in L’viv
142^nd Special Operations Training Centre in Berdychiv

The CAF is also a partner with Ukraine in the Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP). This is an ongoing program. It was running before the launch of Operation UNIFIER. It offers training to:

enable the Armed Forces of Ukraine to work effectively with other countries;
build military capacity; and
support professional development.

History and context of the operation

CAF training is one part of Canada’s broader support to Ukraine in:

development
security
democracy
humanitarian aid

Since January 2014, the Government of Canada has announced more than $700 million in additional help for Ukraine. This funding is for a broad range of projects to:

strengthen security
promote economic stability and growth
advance democracy, human rights and the rule of law
promote a civil society

Canada’s help to Ukraine includes supplying non-lethal military gear. This is an ongoing process and includes equipment such as:

communications systems used for field operations
a mobile field hospital
explosive disposal equipment
medical kits used for military field operations
night vision goggles

The equipment will help improve the Armed Forces of Ukraine's capabilities.

Timeline of key events

Date	Description
April 14, 2015	The Government of Canada announced that Canada would send about 200 CAF members to Ukraine. The mission would run until March 31, 2017.
September 14, 2015	Dual ceremonies were held in Ukraine. They marked the start of the CAF military training mission. One was held in Starychi. The other in Kamyanets-Podilsky.
November 23, 2015	Canada, Lithuania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States held a parade. This marked the stand-up of the Joint Multi-National Training Group – Ukraine headquarters. The HQ is in Starychi.
March 6, 2017	The Government of Canada announced that it has extended Operation UNIFIER until the end of March 2019.
March 2017	About 200 Canadian Army members deployed to relieve their counterparts. Both groups (deploying and coming back) were mainly from the 3rd Canadian Division.
May 18, 2018	The Department of National Defence/ Canadian Armed Forces signed a Technical Arrangement with the Ministry of Interior of Ukraine.
March 18, 2019	The Government of Canada announced that it has extended Operation UNIFIER until the end of March 2022.
September 2020	Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) personnel joined Joint Task Force Ukraine in support of existing training development and capacity building efforts.

Past efforts

From November 2014 to November 2015, Canada sent four major shipments of goods to Ukraine. The first shipment included cold weather clothing. It was sent in November 2014, via a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster. In January 2015, there were two shipments of non-lethal military gear sent by sea. In November 2015, the CAF helped the Government of Canada to deliver about $3 million dollars’-worth of equipment for explosives disposal.