(Winnipeg) The first of three charter flights carrying Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russian invasion landed in Manitoba on Monday afternoon.
Posted at 10:16 a.m.
Updated at 5:50 p.m.
The flight landed at Winnipeg’s Richardson International Airport.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser said the three flights were expected to help bring about 900 Ukrainians approved for emergency stay in Canada.
The second plane flight will leave for Montreal from Poland on May 29 and the third, bound for Halifax, will take off on June 2.
These charter flights are in addition to commercial options, subsidized by a special fund, that are available to Ukrainians fleeing the war.
The Government of Canada has already allowed the arrival of thousands of Ukrainians since the first attack by Russian military forces at the end of February.
Manitoba said refugees will be taken to the province’s Ukrainian refugee reception center to receive settlement assistance after arrival.
Note to readers: A previous version reported that Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the three flights were to help bring about 90,000 Ukrainians approved for emergency travel to Canada. In fact, it’s around 900.