Sending military equipment to Ukraine when Canadian troops are not on the ground is still quite safe and should get there, experts say.
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“The logistics for returning to Ukrainian territory are not that complex. There is a huge border with several European countries that are able to deliver the military equipment that the allies want to distribute to the Ukrainian army,” says François Audet, director of the Institute of International Studies in Montreal.
Canada announced on Sunday the shipment of $25 million in non-lethal equipment, such as helmets and bullet-proof vests, and yesterday added the shipment of lethal weapons, including anti-tank weapons and 2,000 missiles.
This military aid comes on top of the 450 million euros ($639 million) released by the European Union to finance the purchase of arms and other equipment from Ukraine.
Will all this gear go where it needs to? “I made sure with my Polish counterpart that we have an access route,” said Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly.
The sending of troops on the ground is however always ruled out by the Western powers.
“Once we are done with the economic sanctions and we target the wrongdoers, [l’envoi de matériel] is the only thing we agree to do,” says Jonathan Paquin, professor of political science at Laval University.
In secret warehouses
Once there, the equipment will be distributed “in secret warehouses” by the Ukrainian army, to then be distributed according to needs and military operations.
“However, we are not immune, […] whether the material is intercepted, stolen or destroyed. It is part of the risks of war, ”says François Audet.
“This equipment will go to urban areas as a priority. We have civilians who will want to defend cities, but who are not well protected, ”says Anessa Kimball, of the Center for International Security at Laval University.
Many Ukrainians wielded a weapon for the first time when the state provided it for self-defense, but have still not received a hard hat or body armor.
Humanitarian aid
At the same time, international organizations are calling for the establishment of “unconditional humanitarian access” to bring relief to civilians.
“All fighters must […] accept that there is a humanitarian space and unconditional humanitarian access so that the most vulnerable can be helped”, asks Frédéric Joli, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.