Three Canadians lead the watch for new flashpoints in Ukraine
KYIV, Ukraine — After being in Odesa when more than 40 people were burned, suffocated, beaten or shot to death in fighting between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian mobs last week, a Canadian-led team of multinational military observers returned Tuesday to southern Ukraine to resume their appraisal of the shaky security situation there.
While the deployment of several dozen Canadian infantrymen to Poland, and six CF-18 Hornet fighter jets and a frigate to places in or near eastern Europe have received attention in Parliament and from the media, the only Canadians with combat boots on the ground in Ukraine have been three army officers from the Ottawa-based Directorate of Arms Control Verification, who work here under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
The Canadians and the other six members of their team were to have replaced a German-led team in eastern Ukraine. But when those soldiers were taken hostage by pro-Russian separatists, the Canadian-led mission, which was here at the invitation of the Ukrainian government, switched its focus to the south.
“We were glad to see our German colleagues and the German-led team were freed,� said Lt.-Col. Gary Hardwick of Hamilton, Ont. Because of what happened to them, “obviously we need to consider the security situation and operate closely with our Ukrainian colleagues and Ukrainian forces in determining where we operate every day.�
With not one but two red maple leaf patches on their left arms, the Canadians — as well as six soldiers from Moldova, France and the U.S. — have been tasked by the OSCE, whose 57 member countries include Russia, with surveying a vast swath of territory across the south. Many Ukrainians believe that Russia’s intent is to occupy this strip of land to establish total control from Crimea, which it swallowed in March, to a Russian-speaking enclave in neighbouring Moldova. If Russia was to do this, Ukraine would lose all access to the Black Sea.
The Canadians regularly conduct such work in eastern Europe as well as the Caucasus and Central Asia. But because of the chaos that reigns in parts of Ukraine, this mission was different.
“Typically we are focused on inspections of military units looking for very specific things,� Hardwick said of what was his fifth visit to Ukraine over the past four years. “This mission is wider in scope.�
In the convoluted diplomatic parlance favoured by international bodies, the Canadians are part of Vienna Document 2011 (VD11) mission. Their job is to spot unusual military activities such as mobilization of troops, particularly near borders, and to ensure a continuous international military presence. The team receives no direction from Ukrainians, but the host nation has been responsible for the observers’ security and accompanies them on their travels.
The other Canadians with Hardwick are Maj. R.J. Martin of Pembroke, Ont., who is in Ukraine for the 10th time, and Maj. Angus Matheson of Sydney, N.S. All of them are veterans of the war in Afghanistan.
With tensions high and the Canadian government having staked out a strong pro-Kyiv position, there is a high level of oversight and co-ordination from Ottawa, with daily contact, Martin said.