Canada greenlights Ukraine's use of its tanks on Russian territory
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It remains unknown how much of the provided equipment from Canada was utilized by Ukrainian forces during the border assault in Russia's Kursk Region on August 6.
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On Friday, August 16, 2024, a Russian soldier fires a Rapira anti-tank gun, in the border area of Kursk region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
Within Russia, Ukraine can make use of the tanks and armored vehicles that Canada has supplied, according to the Canadian Department of National Defense.
Andree-Anne Poulin, a spokesperson for the defense department, was cited by CBC News as saying: "Canada places no geographic restrictions on the use of military equipment that we donate to Ukraine," adding that it remains unknown how much of the provided equipment from Canada was utilized by Ukrainian forces during the border assault in Russia's Kursk Region on August 6.
The attack on the Kursk Region by Ukraine was allegedly planned with assistance from NATO and Western intelligence services, according to Russian presidential advisor Nikolai Patrushev.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Ukraine had fired randomly at civilian targets in yet another major act of provocation in Kursk. In the Russian border territories, the enemy will face a fitting response, according to Putin.
This comes a day after the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russia's armed forces have regained control over the Krupets village in the border region of Kursk, amid a 10-day-long Ukrainian incursion into the region.
Read more: Belgorod region declared federal emergency: EMERCOM
On the opposite front, Russia said that it took control of a village 16 km from Donetsk's city of Pokrovsk, to the east of Ukraine, which sits in parallel to a major Ukrainian armed forces supply line.
Analysts believed that the incursion into Kursk would see the diversion of Russian troops from several axes of advancement into Ukraine.
The Russian ministry stated that its forces had gained control of several areas in Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk.
Canadian troops in Ukraine
Canada hasn't been just supplying weapons to Ukraine.
A Responsible Statecraft reports back in March this year shed light on a revelation made by Global Affairs Canada that a Canadian had died in Ukraine, who was later announced to be Jean-Francois Ratelle, a commander of the Norman Brigade, a fighting force of volunteers from several different countries commanded by a CAF veteran who goes by "Hrulf", according to CTV News.
The Canadian government says it does not trace how many Canadian citizens are fighting in Ukraine. However, in January 2023, the Ukrainian Foreign Legion stated that Canadians were "one of the most numerous nationalities" fighting in Ukraine.
CTV News reported that it was able to trace “at least 18 Canadians who are or were, in Ukraine as fighters or as part of humanitarian efforts.”
Two Canadians serving with Ukraine's International Legion, which was attached to the 92nd Mechanised Brigade, died in Bakhmut on May 1, 2023. Before being deployed in Ukraine, both of these mercenaries had served in the Canadian Armed Forces. At the time, CBC News announced that they were the fourth and fifth Canadians to die fighting in Ukraine. The Globe and Mail, by November, revealed that nine Canadians died in Ukraine.
