Canada to donate $95M worth of drones to Ukraine amid ongoing war efforts

The federal government has announced that it will donate more than 800 drones to aid in the ongoing war efforts in Ukraine just days after the two year anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

This as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on western allies for increased aid.

Around $95 million worth of drones will arrive in Ukraine by the spring and should help front-line troops gather intelligence and assess threats quickly.

The Skyranger R-70 drones built in Waterloo can help transport cargo weighing up to 3.5 kilograms and can be used for surveillance when paired with the 100 drone cameras Canada had previously donated.

The $95 million price tag is part of a previously announced $500 million military aid package for Ukraine.

The announcement comes as President Zelenskyy is once again calling on his western allies to provide his country more military assistance, especially artillery, air defence and longer-range weapons.

WATCH MORE: Russian drone and missile attacks kill five in Ukraine

In a post on X on Monday, he says the situation on the front lines is extremely difficult as Russia is taking advantage of delays in military aid for Ukraine.

I am returning from our warriors’ positions in the Kharkiv region.

The situation on the frontline is extremely difficult in several areas, particularly where Russian forces have concentrated the majority of their reserves.

They are taking advantage of delays in military aid… pic.twitter.com/1KFIZy5c7E

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 19, 2024

“We have to work in one joint team. That is the answer. If Ukraine will be alone, you have to understand what it will mean. Russia will destroy us, destroy the Baltic, destroy Poland and they can do it,” he said to reporters at the Munich Security Conference.

Zelenskyy also drew particular attention to the hold up of aid for Ukraine in the United States congress, as House Republicans continue to reject the bill.

“Senators have to understand … that we will win with them or not. We don’t have any other way. We have only one land, our Ukraine.”

Canada has pledged $2.4 billion in military assistance since the war began nearly two years ago.