Canadian soldiers headed to Poland to help Ukrainians: ‘This is what we trained for’
Global News
The roughly 80 Canadian soldiers who took off from Edmonton and another 20 from Trenton, Ont., will offer humanitarian assistance at reception centres throughout Poland.
Dozens of Canadian soldiers boarded a plane to Poland Friday for what their commander said would be an intense but gratifying mission to help Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression.
The roughly 80 soldiers who took off from Edmonton and another 20 from Trenton, Ont., will offer humanitarian assistance at reception centres throughout Poland, said Maj. Ryan Pridmore, a company commander with 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.
They, along with a Canadian medical unit, are to support the Polish Territorial Defence Force on a two-month mission.
“Our soldiers are all exceedingly happy to be deploying,” he said. “This is what we trained for. This is why we do this job. Our soldiers are ready to get in there and start helping make a difference.”
Once boots are on the ground, Pridmore said, he expects the soldiers will be put straight to work.
“We have chaplains to provide spiritual guidance and as well as some mental health professionals when refugees arrive into the reception centres,” said Pridmore, who has previously served in Afghanistan and Kuwait.
Some of the other soldiers have a background in linguistics, he added.
He said Canada is prepared to send about 50 more soldiers to help with the care, co-ordination and resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
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