Operation Unifier

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Operation Unifier
Part of Russo-Ukrainian War
Independence Day military parade in Kyiv 2017 58.jpg
DateApril 14, 2015 to present
Location
International Peacekeeping and Security Centre, Starychi, Ukraine
Status Ongoing
Belligerents

 Canada
 Sweden
In support of:


 Ukraine
Commanders and leaders
Thomas J. Lawson 2015
Stephen Harper 2015
Jason Kenney 2015
Justin Trudeau 2015-
Harjit Sajjan 2015-2021
Jonathan Vance 2015-2021
Art McDonald 2021
Anita Anand 2021-
Wayne Eyre 2021-
Magdalena Andersson
Petro Poroshenko
Volodymyr Zelensky
Strength
260[1]

Operation Unifier, also known as Canadian Armed Forces Joint Task Force-Ukraine, is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the security of Ukraine in coordination with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It also includes a small Swedish contingent. It was begun in light of fomentation by the of separatist sentiments in the Donetsk and Luhansk and Crimean regions of Ukraine after the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and the 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine.

Synopsis[edit]

The operation is part of Multinational Joint Commission, a larger body composed of the U.S., UK, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania and Denmark aimed at reforming Ukraine's military. The first Canadian troops to participate in the operation come from the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment.[2][3] The Canadian contribution of training is provided by about 200 Canadian soldiers, rotating every 6 months, increased to 260 in January 2022. As of November 2018 there have been 230 course sessions and more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained under Operation Unifier.[4] Since 2018, a small Swedish contingent also operates within the framework. In December 2021, three Swedish officers were in Ukraine within the framework of Operation Unifier.[5]

History[edit]

Canada made its first delivery of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine on November 28, 2014. This equipment mainly included cold protective clothing and was delivered to Boryspil International Airport by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).[6] On December 8, 2015, the Minister of National Defence of Canada, Harjit Sajjan, announced that his country has signed an agreement with Ukraine for joint military training and for strengthening its military capabilities.[citation needed] On January 10, 2015, the first shipment of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine by sea arrived at the port of Odessa.[6] On April 14, 2015, Canada announced the deployment of a CAF task force, known as Joint Task Force Ukraine or Operation Unifier, with nearly 200 Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Ukraine until March 31, 2017. The military training mission officially began on 14 September 2015 at the International Center for Security and Peacekeeping in Starychi and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Demining Center in Kamianets-Podilskyi.[6]

On February 13, 2022, the Canadian Armed Forces announced that the operation would be temporarily suspended due to the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, with most of the units involved being sent to Poland. Canada has assured Ukraine that the withdrawal is only temporary.[1][7] The Swedish contingent was also withdrawn at this time.[8]

Extensions[edit]

On March 6, 2017, the Government of Canada announced the extension of Operation Unifier until the end of March 2019.[6]

On March 18, 2019, the Government of Canada announced the extension of Operation Unifier until the end of March 2022.[6]

On January 26, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the extension of Operation Unifier until the end of March 2025, and increased the complement of 200 by another 60.[9]

Mission[edit]

According to lobbyists from the NATO Association of Canada, Operation Unifier's broader mission includes:[10]

  • Helping the development of the region
  • Maintaining Security
  • Maintaining Democracy
  • Providing Humanitarian Aid
  • Promoting economic stability and growth

Commanders[edit]

  • Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Troop (October 2019-28 April 2020)[11]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Simpson (28 April 2020-)[12]
  • Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Heer (since 6 October 2020)[13]

Ukrainian diaspora response[edit]

Members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada positively welcomed the Canadian government's contribution to reform the Ukrainian military. A number of community appreciation events were held in Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg for CAF members who have served in Operation Unifier.[14][15][16] On July 1, 2018, the Band of the Ceremonial Guard performed during its daily guard mounting ceremony on Parliament Hill, a Ukrainian military march known as "Shchob shabli ne braly, shchob Kuli mynaly" (Щоб шаблі не брали, щоб кулі минали) in front of members of the Ukrainian diaspora during the ceremony, as a response to the operation.[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Brewster, Murray (February 13, 2022). "Canadian military trainers pulled out of Ukraine before anticipated Russian invasion: sources". CBC News. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  2. ^ "Current operations - Operation Unifier". 2015-07-31. Retrieved 1 Aug 2018.
  3. ^ "Canadian troops arrive in Ukraine to train soldiers fighting separatists". Retrieved 3 Aug 2018.
  4. ^ Defence, National (2018-12-06). "Commander of the Canadian Army visits soldiers on Operation Unifier". gcnws. Retrieved 2018-12-11.
  5. ^ "Därför utbildar Sverige ukrainska säkerhetsstyrkor" [The reason Sweden trains Ukrainian security forces] (in Swedish). Swedish Armed Forces. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Operation Unifier". Government of Canada. 2015-07-31.
  7. ^ Reuters (2022-02-13). "Canada relocates military personnel out of Ukraine amid Russia threats". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  8. ^ "Sveriges bidrag till Operation Unifier har lämnat Ukraina" [The Swedish contribution to Operation Unifier has left Ukraine]. Swedish Armed Forces (in Swedish). 14 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  9. ^ Aaron D'Andrea, Amanda Connolly, and Crystal Goomansingh (2022-01-26). "Canada will not send weapons to Ukraine, boosting cyber support and training mission - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2022-02-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Ava-Pointon, Isabelle (28 May 2018). "Why Operation Unifier Matters". NATO Association of Canada.
  11. ^ "A new Commander of the Operation UNIFIER visited National Land Forces Academy".
  12. ^ "Change of command at Operation UNIFIER". 27 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Lieutenant-Colonel Sarah Heer takes command of Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine".
  14. ^ Zeilig, Martin (October 4, 2018). "2PPCLI Op Unifier soldiers invited to Winnipeg for Oct. 14 event". Shilo Stag.
  15. ^ "Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada holds a Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Event in Toronto Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Toronto Branch". ucctoronto.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  16. ^ "Operation Unifier Deserves Our Gratitude | New Pathway Ukrainian News | Новий Шлях Українські Вісті". New Pathway Ukrainian News | Новий Шлях Українські Вісті. 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  17. ^ "Щоб кулі минали: зміна почесної варти в Канаді пройшла під українську пісню. Відеофакт". July 2018.
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