Operation Unifier

Operation UNIFIER, also known as Canadian Armed Forces Joint Task Force-Ukraine, is the Canadian Armed Forces contribution to the security of Ukraine in coordination with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The operation is part of Multinational Joint Commission, a larger body composed of the U.S., UK, Canada, Poland, Lithuania and Denmark aimed at reforming Ukraine's military. Canadian troops that participate in the operation come from the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Training is provided by about 200 Canadian soldiers, rotating every 6 months. As of September 2018 more than 8,760 Ukrainian soldiers had been trained as a result of Operation Unifier.

History
Canada made its first delivery of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine on November 28, 2014. This equipment mainly included cold protective clothing and was delivered to Kiev Boryspil Airport by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). On December 8, the Minister of National Defense of Canada, Harjit Sajjan, announced that his country has signed an agreement with Ukraine for joint military training and for strengthening its military capabilities. On January 10, 2015, the first shipment of non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine by sea arrived at the port of Odessa. On April 14, 2015, Canada announced the deployment of a CAF task force, known as Joint Task Force Ukraine or Operation Unifier, with nearly 200 Canadian Armed Forces stationed in Ukraine until March 31, 2017. The military training mission officially began on 14 September 2015 at the International Center for Security and Peacekeeping in Starychi and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Demining Center in Kamianets-Podilskyi. On March 6, 2017, the Government of Canada announced the extension of Operation Unifier until the end of March 2019.

Mission
Operation Unifier's broader mission includes:


 * Helping the development of the region
 * Maintaining Security
 * Maintaining Democracy
 * Providing Humanitarian Aid
 * Promoting economic stability and growth

Ukrainian Diaspora response
Ukrainian diaspora in Canada positively welcomed the Canadian government's contribution to reform the Ukrainian military. A number of community appreciation events were held in Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg for CAF soldiers who have served in Operation Unifier.