Canada has deployed a small contingent of special forces operators to Ukraine to assist the government in Kyiv and help deter Russian aggression, the kresy24.pl website reported, citing Canada's Global News.
Earlier UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that a small contingent of British troops would be sent to Ukraine to help train soldiers there amid tensions with Russia, according to kresy24.pl.
Moscow has stationed more than 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine, and the United States said last week it was concerned that Russia was seeking an excuse to invade its western neighbour, the Reuters news agency reported.
The Canadian special operations presence is part of an attempt by NATO allies to deter Russian aggression in Ukraine and to identify ways to help the country's government, Global News reported, citing sources it did not name.
The unit has also been tasked with helping to develop evacuation plans for Canadian diplomatic personnel in the event of a full-scale invasion, Global News said, as cited by Reuters.
(gs)
Source: kresy24.pl, Reuters