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.”
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