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​Facing Russia’s Threat: Canadian Special Forces Operators Deployed in Ukraine (video)

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

Against the background of military escalation by Russia, Canada’s spec-ops unit have been deployed in Ukraine. This contingent is part of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, Global News reports citing its own sources in the Canadian government

The deployment of a small contingent from the Canadian Special Operations Regiment comes as diplomatic talks aimed at staving off an armed conflict in Ukraine have faltered, and an estimated 100,000 Russian troops remain camped on Ukraine’s border.

Sources told Global News that the Canadian special operations presence is part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine, and to identify ways to assist the Ukrainian government.

Read more: Canadian Firms to Assist Ukraine in Building up its Domestic Ammunition Production Capacity
Canadian special forces operators deployed in Ukraine, Defense Express
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

"The unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in the event of a full-scale invasion, sources said," Global News reported.

Neither the government nor the Canadian Forces would officially confirm the special forces presence in Ukraine when contacted by Global News, other than to say special forces operators have been involved in Canada’s broader assistance to Ukraine.

Canadian special forces operators deployed in Ukraine, Defense Express
Canadian special forces operators deployed in Ukraine, Defense Express
Canadian special forces operators deployed in Ukraine, Defense Express
Canadian special forces have been training the Ukrainian military for several years as part of the UNIFIER mission. 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

“(The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command) is part of the broader Armed Forces’ efforts to support Ukraine’s Security Forces,” wrote Maj. Amber Bineau, a spokesperson for special operations command, in a statement to Global News.

Canadian special forces operators deployed in Ukraine, Defense Express
Lieutenant-General Jean-Marc Lanthier, Commander of the Canadian Army visits with members of Operation UNIFIER conducting battalion training with the 94th Marine Infantry Battalion at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre near Starychi, Ukraine on December 5, 2018. Image: Joint Task Force-Ukraine

Bineau noted that Canadian special forces have been providing training, as well as “instructor and leadership expertise,” to Ukrainian counterparts since 2020 — although sources told Global News the latest special forces contingent, which left for Ukraine around Jan. 9, is not conducting training, - Global News reported.

As reported, Ukrainian and US intelligence indicates Russia preparing operation to justify invasion of Ukraine. At the same time USA approves additional $200 mln in security aid to Ukraine and together with NATO alliance members working over supplying Stinger missiles to Ukraine in addition to the American military assistance that is already flowing to Kyiv.

At the same time British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced that Great Britain had begun supplying Ukraine with new light anti-tank weapons in response to “the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia”.

Read more: Canada Weighs Bolstering its Security Aid to Ukraine as Fears Grow over Impending Russian Incursion