05-08-22, 03:17
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#71
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re: HUGE Explosion Seen Near Russian Airbase in Crimea
Canada to Join British-Led Mission to Train Ukrainian Recruits
Canada is prepared to commit a contingent of soldiers to the British Army's ambitious program to turn Ukrainian civilians into fighting troops, CBC News has learned.
Outgoing British prime minister Boris Johnson committed to the training plan in mid-June while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
CBC News 5 AUG 2022.
Canadian soldiers conduct a demonstration of vehicle recovery techniques alongside Ukrainian soldiers at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Starychi, Ukraine, during Operation Unifier on Nov. 25, 2015. (Joint Task Force Ukraine/DND)
Up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers are expected to fly to the U.K. for basic and specialist military training in courses that last five weeks. The first tranche of Ukrainian recruits arrived and instruction began in early July.
Three sources who are familiar with the file but not authorized to speak publicly told CBC News that Canada intends to contribute to the British-led effort. Defence Minister Anita Anand is expected to formally announce it today.
The plan amounts to the restart of Operation Unifier, the long-standing training mission which saw — until its suspension last winter — more than 35,000 Ukrainian soldiers given advanced combat instruction by Canadian soldiers.
That mission, conducted on Ukrainian soil, was halted and the troops pulled out of the eastern European country in mid-February on the eve of the full-scale Russian invasion.
It involved about 200 soldiers and included a contingent. Two of the three sources said the latest initiative with the British will "involve roughly the same number."
A third source was more specific saying the new program will involve three training teams with approximately 60 members each, plus additional command staff.
Minister of Defence Anita Anand speaks during an announcement at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ont., on Monday June 20, 2022. Anand announced Thursday that 225 CAF members will deploy to the U.K. to train thousands of fresh Ukrainian troops. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press)
Lt.-Col. Kris Reeves is shown during a medal ceremony in Starychi, Ukraine, on Feb. 26, 2018. (Cpl. Neil P. Clarkson/DND)
The Ukrainian government has repeatedly pressed Canada to restart the training in a third country, said diplomatic sources who spoke separately to CBC News and were granted anonymity because of the sensitivity of the file.
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