CORRECTION: Canadian Forces Special Operations members are training Ukrainians on the ground in Ukraine. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that they would be helping with the training plan announced on Thursday that will see members of the regular force working in the UK Global News regrets this error.
Elite Canadian operators from Canada’s Special Operations Command are training Ukrainians on the ground in Ukraine, multiple sources tell Global News.
Sources told Global News that members of Canada’s Special Operations Command are also facilitating the delivery of weapons and equipment.
Global News is not identifying which units are involved due to operational security concerns.
The news comes after Defense Minister Anita Anand announced plans to deploy regular members of the Canadian Forces to the UK as part of a plan to specifically train Ukrainian recruits, describing it as fulfilling a promise that the Canadian government did when it stopped Operation Unifier. training mission in Ukraine shortly before the Russian invasion earlier this year.
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Read more: Canadian Forces to train Ukrainian soldiers in UK to counter Russia
The Canadian Special Operations Command did not deny the operations, but declined to comment when contacted by Global News. In an interview, Anand also did not deny the operations.
“In terms of special forces and their location and information along those lines, it would be unwise for me to provide that information,” he said in an interview Thursday with Global News.
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“These are very sensitive issues and I take my role as Canada’s minister of national defense very seriously, including the protection and safety of our troops in every way. And I’ll leave it at that.”
The New York Times had previously reported the presence of some Canadian members of special operations in Ukraine, but their role and presence had not been confirmed by any Canadian media until now.
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The training rotation Anand announced Thursday will see up to 225 members of the Canadian Forces deployed to the United Kingdom over the next four months, with the first batch of trainers leaving next week.
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They will train the Ukrainian recruits in front-line combat and the rules of engagement under international law, with Anand describing the training program as “extensive”.
Canadian media also reported Thursday that the training support will focus on teaching the Ukrainians how to use the four M777 howitzers that Canada donated earlier this year, as well as cyber assistance through the spy agency of Canada, Communications Security Establishment.
Anand said Thursday that the world is now entering “a new and very dangerous phase of this conflict” as Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to cause “long-term damage” to Ukraine.
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