According to Canada's "Global News" television station reported on January 17, due to the escalation of tensions between NATO and Russia, Canada has sent special forces to Ukraine. The deployment of the force is part of NATO's efforts to stop a Russian invasion and is tasked with helping to develop a plan for Canadian diplomats to withdraw in the event of a Russian invasion.
Screenshot of Canada's Global News television report on January 17
Canadian media quoted people familiar with the matter as reporting that the Canadian Special Operations Regiment sent a small detachment to Ukraine. Canadian media stressed that the special operation is part of NATO's efforts to prevent Russian troops from invading Ukraine, after Russia has deployed 100,000 troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border, and NATO's move is intended to help the Ukrainian government.
Major Binough, a spokesman for the Canadian Special Forces Command, wrote in a statement to Global News that "[special forces] are part of a broader effort by the Canadian forces to support Ukrainian security forces." The Canadian media report stressed that in interviews with the media, Canadian military and political figures have avoided a positive response, did not confirm the news of special forces in Ukraine, but only said that special forces participated in Canada's assistance to Ukraine.
Canadian Special Operations Corps Profile Photo (Social Networking Site)
Major Binoy said the Canadian Special Forces have been helping the Ukrainian military with training and providing "coaching and leadership expertise" since 2020, while Global News television quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying that the latest batch of Canadian special forces contingents that traveled to Ukraine around January 9 would not conduct training.
Russia's TASS news agency mentioned in a January 18 report that Canadian troops have been stationed in Ukraine since 2015 to help Ukrainian troops train soldiers and officers at the Yavorov Training Ground in the country's western Lviv region, with a total of about 200 Canadian troops performing such tasks each time. The Government of Canada decided in March 2019 to extend such missions until spring 2022.
Ukrainian troops in training with foreign forces (Russell Novosti)
Canadian media mentioned in the report that US Secretary of State Blinken declared on January 14 that the United States and NATO are committed to solving the problem through diplomatic channels, urging Russia to reduce its actions on the Russian-Ukrainian border. The United States warned that if diplomatic talks fail, Russia could find an excuse to invade Ukraine. Canadian Foreign Minister Jolly visited Kiev on January 16 to reaffirm the Canadian government's support for Ukraine. Jolly declared, "Russia has amassed troops and equipment around Ukraine, endangering the security of the entire region." The relevant claims have been refuted by the Russian side.
The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada passed a resolution in December 2021 allowing foreign troops to enter Ukraine. Ukrainian forces plan to conduct 10 exercises with foreign forces in 2022, of which 3,700 people are planned to participate in the "Maple Arch" exercise, Canada will send about 300 people to participate in the exercise, Lithuania and Poland will participate in the scale of 500 troops, and Ukrainian and other participating troops will also invest in aviation forces.
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