The Canadian defense department sent a detachment of special forces to Ukraine because of the fear of a conflict on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Global News reports, citing sources.

The military department noted that the main task of the detachment is to develop a plan for the evacuation of Canadian diplomats in the event of an escalation of the situation on the border of the two states. So far, neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Canadian government has confirmed official information.

The channel called the presence of the Canadian military an attempt by NATO allies to contain the Russian "invasion" of Ukraine and determine ways to help Kiev.

Special Operations Command spokeswoman noted that Canadian special forces have been training the Ukrainian military and passing on instructor and leadership experience for several years. At the same time, the last detachment, which went to Ukraine on January 9, will not conduct classes.

The Canadian army has been teaching courses under Operation Unifier since 2015. Soldiers and officers of the Ukrainian army are training at the Yavoriv training ground in the Lviv region. The mission currently includes approximately 200 Canadian troops. In March 2019, the country's government decided to extend the mission until spring 2022.

In November 2021, Canada decided to increase its military contingent in Ukraine. Ottawa wanted to send several hundred troops there, transfer CF-18 fighters from Romania and send a warship to the Black Sea.