News from Ukraine

On the military front, not a lot has changed since Roman Waschuk became Canada’s eighth and first fluent Ukrainian-speaking ambassador to Ukraine since the country gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. When he took up his post in October 2014, Russia had already annexed Crimea, and the conflict between Russian-backed militants and Ukrainian troops had begun. But Mr. Waschuk has noticed a difference in the mood on the ground in Ukraine, where he has spent considerable time prior to his ambassadorial appointment...

A delegation from the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), a Washington D.C. based think tank, conducted its annual visit to Ukraine in April 2018 to review the status of the security and defense sector of the country. The AFPC advises US government institutions, including members of the Trump Administration, and makes recommendations for US foreign, security, and defense policy on Ukraine and many other countries. During this most recent working visit to Ukraine AFPC experts met with top Ukrainian government officials in Kyiv and visited both ends of the country, starting in Kharkiv, moving on to Kramatorsk, then to the most forward outposts of Ukrainian defense forces near the city of Avdiyivka. Afterwards, the team visited Lviv and local villages in the area, including Horutsko...

The International Peacekeeping and Security Centre (IPSC) covers 360 square kilometers and is the biggest military training centre in Ukraine. The IPSC is commonly known as the Yavoriv Training Centre as it is located near Starychi, Yavoriv district, 45 kilometers from Lviv. On April 20, 2018 representatives of Ukrainian Canadian organizations assisting Ukraine and supporting close Canada-Ukraine relations had the honour of visiting the IPSC to witness the Joint Task Forces of Operation UNIFIER (JTF-U). The mission of JTF-U is to provide Security Force Assistance (SFA) to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order support their efforts in achieving NATO compatibility and enduring sector reform...

This June 7-13 an official delegation of international experts from the United States, representing influential think tanks - AFPC (American Foreign Policy Council), Jamestown Foundation, Hudson Institute and Heritage Foundation visited Ukraine. The delegation will share its findings and make recommendations to the White House and Congress regarding policy toward Russia, Ukraine and Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine and other countries including the Euro-Atlantic community. Last week Presidents of the USA and Ukraine met to discuss current situation...

May 31, 2017, at 18:30 after a serious illness His Beatitude Lubomyr (Husar), Archbishop Emeritus of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Church died at the age of 85. January 26, 2001 - February 10, 2011 he served as a Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 26, 1933, Lubomyr Husar fled from Ukraine with his parents in 1944, ahead of the advancing Soviet army. He spent the early post-World War II years among Ukrainian refugees in a displaced persons camp near Salzburg, Austria. In 1949, he emigrated with his family to the United States of America. From 1950 to 1954, he studied at St. Basil's College (Ukrainian) Seminary in Stamford, Connecticut. He continued his studies at...

In early August Hero’s Companion therapy dogs and volunteers took part in a charitable camp for children affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine (displaced children and children of soldiers). The camp, entitled “We – are Ukraine,” was organized by the Ukrainian Youth Association and brought together 160 children from across the country. This was the first time Hero’s Companion had participated in such a camp, and the results were very positive. According to Nelya Lavrynenko, who headed the camp, “The therapy dogs are [did] incredible work. They sensed who needed their help, and while giving everyone attention, worked more closely with those who needed them more. They accurately picked those children, without my involvement. ‘Hero’s Companion’ dogs have exceeded my expectations.”...

Lt. Nadiya Savchenko, fighter pilot, officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, elected representative to the Ukrainian Parliament and member of the Parliament of Europe, who was kidnapped by Russian forces in the Anti-Terrorist Zone in Eastern Ukraine, has been in Russian jails for a year and a half now. Fabricated evidence of her alleged guilt has been widely disseminated long before any day in court, in order to justify the harsh prison term, she is expected to...

Four Canadian ambulances that are ready for service were handed off to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine this morning. The ambulances, along with equipment and supplies, were donated by paramedics services from the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta to the main hospitals that treat injured soldiers from the conflict zone. Video: http://www.radiosvoboda.org/media/video/27264959.html# The event and ambulance keys handoff took place outside the Winner Automotive showroom in Kyiv...