$1 MILLION IN NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT DELIVERED TO UKRAINE
On March 18, 2015 outside of the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv, a press conference was held that was attended by Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Colonel General Stepan Poltorak, the Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Roman Waschuk, and Lenna Koszarny, Chair of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ukraine Advisory Council, along with members of the Ukrainian and Canadian militaries.
At the press conference it was announce that the first shipment of the PVS-7 night vision optic system was delivered from Canada to Ukraine. This latest aid package was in accordance to the November 2014 Government of Canada announcement that it would be sending a provision of non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine’s military. The first shipment of equipment and supplies was sent to Ukraine at the end of November and included Canadian Forces cold weather gear (including coats, pants, boots and gloves). Another $1 million was devoted for the night and thermal vision equipment and binoculars.
A total of 238 units will be given to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The PVS-7 are helmet-mounted goggles that are in use by military and law enforcement agencies around the world, and are one of the best night-vision goggles on the market today. Not only are they lightweight, they are also water and condensation-proof, and resistant to salt, fog, humidity, and cold and hot weather. Given the varied landscapes of Ukraine, they are ideal. Ambassador Waschuk assured the Minister that nothing came from Russia and that all the PVS-7s are western made.
The first 60 goggles have already been delivered to military bases, and the Ukrainian Minister of Defence stated that a list has already been created for those brigades that are in desperate need of the new equipment. A volunteer took the first shipment to the 79th and 10th Brigades, and the rest will be delivered in the upcoming days. The Minister of Defence reiterated that these optic goggles are desperately needed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces because of the divergent activities used by the Russian forces at night.
The Minister also thanked the Government of Canada and especially the Canadian Minister of Defence, Jason Kenney, and the Ambassador of Canada for their continued support of the Ukrainian Forces. He also reminded the press that this was not the first shipment of aid to come from Canada, and reiterated that the optics received would be very useful as “there is a great need for them because even though there is a truce, the aggression against our army is still present.” He concluded his remarks by stating his immense pleasure at having Canada as a reliable partner.
The Ambassador of Canada also stated that this shipment of optics is “only one of the many aid packages from Canada.” He also added that this particular aid comes at a “time when Ukraine is trying to enforce the truce but at night, when it is difficult to see what is happening, Putin’s undisciplined allies attempt to instigate the Ukrainian forces. Canada is here to help Ukraine defend their peaceful existence.”
On March 18, 2015 outside of the Ministry of Defense in Kyiv, a press conference was held that was attended by Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Colonel General Stepan Poltorak, the Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Roman Waschuk, and Lenna Koszarny, Chair of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ukraine Advisory Council, along with members of the Ukrainian and Canadian militaries.
