UK supplies weapons, Canada sends special forces to Ukraine amid Russian invasion fears
- British anti-tank systems delivered to Ukraine as Canada deploys special forces
- Russian troops with tanks are massed near Ukraine, but Moscow denies attack plans
Britain said it was supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons and Canada has reportedly deployed a small contingent of special forces operators to the country, amid concerns over a possible Russian invasion.
Western countries say they fear Russia is preparing a pretext for a new assault on Ukraine, which it invaded in 2014. Nato estimated 100,000 Russian troops with tanks and other heavy weapons are massed near Ukraine.
Moscow denies any plans for an attack, but has said it could take unspecified military action unless the West agrees to a list of demands, including banning Ukraine from ever joining Nato.
Talks last week ended with no breakthrough. Kyiv has asked Western countries for arms to help it protect itself.
“We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light anti-armour defensive weapon systems,” British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told parliament, saying the first systems were already delivered and a small number of British personnel would provide training for a short period of time.
He did not specify the number or type of weapons that were being sent, but said: “They are not strategic weapons and pose no threat to Russia. They are to use in self-defence”.
“These are short-range … but nevertheless it would make people pause and think what they were doing and if tanks were to roll into Ukraine, invade it, then they would be part of the defence mechanism.”
Wallace said he had invited Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to visit London in the next few weeks to discuss the crisis, though he did not know whether the Russians would accept.
US says Russia preparing ‘false-flag’ operation for Ukraine invasion
Canada’s small special operations presence was reported by Global News on Monday. The unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in the event of a full-scale invasion, Global News said, citing sources.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command said it could not confirm the report, but said it has supported the Ukrainian security forces on a periodic basis since autumn of 2020.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly was in Kyiv to discuss efforts to deter “aggressive actions” by Russia and met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal on Monday.
Canada, which has the world’s third-largest Ukrainian population after Ukraine and Russia, has maintained a 200-strong training mission in western Ukraine since 2015.
In the United States, a bipartisan group of senators also promised solidarity and weapons on a visit to Kyiv on Monday while warning the Kremlin against launching a new military offensive against Ukraine.
Ukraine accuses Russia of massive cyberattack, waging ‘hybrid war’
“And we will impose crippling economic sanctions, but more important we will give the people of Ukraine the arms, lethal arms they need to defend their lives and livelihoods,” he said after the delegation met President Volodymyr Zelensky.
These weapons could include Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger missiles, small arms and boats, he said.
“And so our message is: there will be consequences if he chooses to violate the sanctity of this democracy,” Senator Amy Klobuchar added.
Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia could launch an attack from various directions, including from the territory of its ally Belarus.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has increasingly relied on the Kremlin’s support amid Western sanctions over a brutal crackdown on domestic protests, said Russia and Belarus will hold massive military drills next month.
Reuters and Associated Press