42 containers of non-lethal military aid from Canada arrived in Odessa on the third day of Ukrainian Christmas. Communications systems, medical kits, night vision goggles, and military clothing. It’s the latest in a series of shipments. A previous one had arrived in Boryspil Airport on the 28th of November of last year. That was two days after Canadian Defence Minister Rob Nicholson announced an additional $11 million of aid.
I’m not sure whether other countries have sent such aid to Ukraine. The US announced a $53 million package of non-lethal aid last September. But I haven’t seen any reports of it arriving. Perhaps the Americans are just not advertising their assistance. Unlike Canadians. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress even worked with #BABYLON 13 and produced a short film about the November shipment.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5-fHMa3Kkk#t=244
Like last time, the January Canadian shipment was met by volunteers from both Canada and Ukraine. They were there to assist government officials from both sides.
“Now the real work begins,” Lenna Koszarny said on FB from Odessa. The Canadian-Ukrainian businesswoman chairs the UCC Ukraine Advisory Council. She was smiling as she met with the other volunteers to inspect the containers. Some of the containers were blue and yellow.
Mykola is a Ukrainian soldier I stay in contact with. He’s fighting in the Donbass and recently posted photos of Canadian Forces winter gear. With a request. He asked anyone seeing them for sale to report the blackmarketeers. As I hear reports that fighting is intensifying, I’m hoping to see photos of Mykola with some of that Canadian aid soon, delivered by government officials and volunteers.
