Canadian volunteer injured in Ukraine

To find out all about our coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it is here. Ed. Some content may be self-explanatory and difficult to read.

2:40 pm | A New Brunswick volunteer wounded in a Russian missile strike on a military base near Ukraine’s western border on Sunday says there was no warning before the attack.

Hunter Francis, from the Mickmack community at Eel Ground in northeastern New Brunswick, says there were no airstrikes warning sirens before the missiles hit the base.

In a text message to The Canadian Press on Tuesday, Hunter Francis said the missiles first struck a supply depot and then an existing barracks.

A former Canadian Armed Forces soldier who arrived in Ukraine last week to volunteer for defense against the Russian occupation says the bombing lasted about 30 minutes. He says he found pieces of glass and metal in his right arm and nose.

Hunter Francis is now in an unidentified country on the border with Ukraine, and Hamilton, an Ontario-based Fight for Ukrainian volunteer, is preparing to return to Canada.

Ukrainian officials say at least 35 people were killed and 134 wounded in Sunday’s attack. This military training base is located about twenty kilometers from the Polish border near Elviv.

Sabrina Williams, Canada’s spokeswoman for World Affairs, said in a statement that the department had been notified that a Canadian had been injured in the weekend attack and was seeking help. But the ministry could not comment further on the reasons for the confidentiality.

National Defense Minister Anita Anand has previously said that it is up to Canadians to take part in the conflict in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government says about 20,000 foreigners have decided to volunteer, most of them Westerners.

Noon 1:20 | Among Canadians banned from Russia are Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie and Defense Minister Anita Anand.

They are on the list of banned foreigners on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Canada on Tuesday added 15 names to its list of its own sanctions against more than 900 influential Russian and Ukrainian politicians, military officials and business leaders, as well as Belarusians and Vladimir Putin’s regime and its allies in the deadly invasion of Ukraine.

Russia has now responded to the ban by barring more than 300 Canadians from entering Russia, including Justin Trudeau, Melanie Jolie, Security Chief Wayne Eyre and almost all Canadian MPs.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky called on Canadian lawmakers to “stop Russia, defend Ukraine, and do more to protect Europe from the Russian threat.”

“We do not ask for much: justice and genuine support will help us to win and save lives,” he said in a virtual speech in the crowded House of Commons in Ukrainian. International spread.

Zelensky addresses parliament: ‘We want to live, we want to win’

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky called on Canadian lawmakers to “stop Russia, defend Ukraine, and do more to protect Europe from the Russian threat.”

“We do not ask for much: justice and genuine support will help us to win and save lives,” he said in a virtual speech in the crowded House of Commons in Ukrainian. International spread.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised the opening of a “brave and exceptional leader”. “I have always considered you a champion of democracy,” he said.

“You can count on us to be friends and unshakable allies,” Justin Trudeau concluded before handing over to Volodymyr Zhelensky.

The applause continued.

“Can you imagine you and your children hearing explosions and shelling at 4am? Can you imagine the Ottawa bombing? Your children ask you: “What’s going on?” Said Volodymyr Zhelensky in the introduction. He went on to explain that at the beginning of the Russian invasion, we had been watching for 20 days.

The Russians are “destroying everything”, including schools, hospitals and residential buildings, “they have already killed 97 Ukrainian children,” Volodymyr Zelensky summed up.

“Dear Justin, Dear Members of Parliament, Imagine getting statistics on the number of victims. Imagine that the CN Tower was bombed by Russian forces. I do not want that to happen, but it’s our reality. “

“Every night is a terrible night,” he continued. We want to live, we want to succeed. “

“Our allies tell us to catch up and wait a little longer […] However, we do not have clear answers.

“Our country has always been peaceful, but now it is under attack.”

“We ask for support to help us succeed and save lives,” he pleaded.

“We thank the friends of Ukraine and the friends of the truth.”

Volodymyr Zelensky again called for the closure of his country’s skies, which was rejected by NATO for 20 days.

“Remember that this is the history written in Ukraine: we want to live in peace.”

“I thank the Canadians: we can win together. Glory to Ukraine and Canada,” he concluded.

Several minutes of applause welcomed the end of his speech.

Yellow and blue

Parliament was not convened until March 21, but Speaker of the House Anthony Rotta approved a special request to address the gathering and allow guests to attend.

All parliamentarians wore yellow and blue ribbons in the colors of the Ukrainian flag for this special speech.

According to the 2016 census, 1,359,655 Canadians (3.8% of the Canadian population) are of Ukrainian descent, most of them Canadian-born. Justin Trudeau said it was the 2nd Ukrainian immigrant in the world.

Finance Minister Christina Freeland is also of Ukrainian descent and speaks Ukrainian well.

Ukraine number in NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zhelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine could “recognize” that it could not join NATO, while the file was a reason for Russia to justify its invasion.

“We have heard for years that the doors are open, but we have heard that we have not been able to join.

“I’m glad our people understand this and start believing in their own strengths,” he added.

However, he lamented that NATO “seems to have been hypnotized by the Russian occupation” and refuses to create a no-fly zone over Ukraine.