Canada’s government announced its plan to send over 800 drones to Ukraine, with deliveries starting as soon as this spring.
According to the Department of National Defence, these drones are essential for Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, serving crucial roles in surveillance, intelligence, and the transportation of supplies, including munitions.
The procurement of these drones, valued at over 95 million Canadian dollars ($70 million), is part of Canada’s broader commitment of 500 million Canadian dollars ($370 million) in military support for Ukraine.
The drones, known as SkyRanger R70 multi-mission Unmanned Aerial Systems, are produced by Teledyne in Waterloo, Ontario. This move precedes the upcoming two-year mark of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to the drones, Canada has previously contributed 100 high-resolution drone cameras to Ukraine and over the last two years has committed a total of 2.4 billion Canadian dollars ($1.8 billion) towards military aid for the country.
During a conference in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed to aiding the rebuilding efforts in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of economic recovery for Ukraine, Japan, and the global community.
During the event, which saw participation from hundreds of leaders from both nations, Kishida announced plans to ease visa restrictions and revealed that the Japan External Trade Organization is set to establish a presence in Kyiv.
In the same vein, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Denmark’s decision to contribute its artillery shells from its stockpiles to assist Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Frederiksen highlighted that Ukraine’s primary requests from its allies include ammunition and artillery, prompting Denmark’s decision to donate its entire artillery.
