Ottawa provides $32.5 million in aid to Ukraine to better clear the territory

The Government of Canada holds Russia accountable for its atrocities and crimes in Ukraine since the conflict began a year ago.< /p>

As the world marks the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Canada is announcing $32.5 million in assistance to Ukraine, which will include better demining the territory and to fight against sexual violence linked to the conflict.

The aid announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly is distributed as follows:

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In its statement, Global Affairs Canada argues that Ottawa has always been steadfast in its commitment to supporting Ukraine's security and resilience and to holding Russia accountable for its atrocities and crimes.

This federal government assistance is in addition to several others that have been granted since the beginning of the conflict.

As of early January, Canada's commitment to Ukraine totaled more than $3.4 billion, both military and humanitarian assistance, since beginning of the Russian invasion, February 24, 2022.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the aid promised to Ukraine exceeds 5 billion dollars, including more than 2.6 billion dollars in financial aid, 1.2 billion dollars in military aid, 320 million in humanitarian assistance, an additional $96 million in development assistance, and more than $73.8 million in security and stabilization programming.

In early January, the federal government had announced the purchase of a surface-to-air missile system for the benefit of Ukraine, a donation of 406 million dollars. The defense equipment, jointly developed by the United States and Norway, had been purchased from the American neighbor.

Canada has provided Ukraine with a NASAMS air defense system which, depending on the type of missiles it is equipped with, performs medium to long range shots. (File photo)

This medium and long-range anti-aircraft system was intended to protect the population and infrastructure against attacks by enemy drones, missiles and aircraft.

This missile system is in addition to the four Leopard 2 tanks donated recently by Canada and other aid given to Ukraine in the past, such as armor, howitzers, drone cameras, ammunition or warm clothes.

The last of four Leopard 2 tanks promised to the Ukraine was loaded aboard a Canadian Forces C-17 aircraft on February 9th. (File photo)

In December, Ottawa paid $115 million to the government of Volodymyr Zelensky to repair the power grid in the capital Kiev, damaged by Russian fire. This money came from a special tax on imports from Russia and Belarus.