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To check the status of your Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) application, follow these steps:

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• You’ll be able to see your application status, applicant information and estimated remaining processing time.

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Ottawa expands emergency visa program measures for Ukrainians affected by war with Russia

Ukrainian nationals fleeing the ongoing war in Ukraine arrive at Trudeau Airport in Montreal, on May 29, 2022. Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press

The federal government is allowing more Ukrainians fleeing the war to enter Canada this year while making it easier for some of those who have already arrived to stay longer, including some whose status was set to expire next year.

The government announced new measures last week after months of uncertainty about whether it would extend the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program (CUAET), which has allowed about 300,000 Ukrainians and their family members to enter the country in the past two years with a deadline of March 31 for successful applicants.

In April, the arrival deadline for Ukrainians and their family members whose CUAET applications were approved on or after Feb. 4 was extended to July 31 – and now it has been extended again to Dec. 31. Everyone who arrives under the CUAET is eligible for a three-year open work or study permit upon arrival.

As well, the government says CUAET applicants who arrived before March 31 can apply to either extend their study or work permits or obtain new three-year permits by March 31, 2025. While this was also allowed under the previous policy, some Ukrainians said they were unaware of this and have been concerned about what they would do once their initial three-year work permit expired, which for many was set to happen next year.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in March that he had no plans to extend the deadline for Ukrainians arriving under the CUAET program.

Michelle Carbert, the spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said the new policy is not an extension of the CUAET program, “but rather additional measures to support those who came to Canada under the CUAET by March 31, 2024.”

Applications for visas under the CUAET program closed in July last year and that has not changed.

Ukrainians who fled to Canada have been advocating for a streamlined pathway to permanent residency, saying many of their ranks don’t qualify for the existing programs, including the Ukraine family reunification pathway introduced last October. Another issue facing Ukrainian men eligible for military service is that they can’t renew their passports abroad, which prevents them from staying in Canada on work permits after their passports expire.

Toronto immigration lawyer Lev Abramovich applauded the recent federal announcement.

“I think it’s pragmatic, it’s beneficial, given the number of people in Canada and the fact that the war is still raging,” he said.

Oleksandr Perederenko, who has lived in Montreal for two years with his wife and three children, said the possibility of having to leave Canada next year took a toll on his mental health.

“My hair was turning gray with thoughts of where I would flee again with my family if my work permit expired,” said Mr. Perederenko, who works as a maintenance assistant at a rental company. “This decision saved us and we can stay longer.”

Ukraine suspended consular services abroad in April for all men aged 18 to 60 who are eligible for military service. Once they go back, they are barred from leaving.

Given that temporary residence status can only be extended for three years or until their passport expires, whichever comes first, the difficulty of renewing their passports could be a barrier for fighting-age Ukrainian men in Canada.

Mr. Perederenko’s passport will expire in 2025 and he does not know if he will be able to renew it. He said he doesn’t want to bring his family back to the war in Ukraine. His youngest child is a six-month-old Canadian who was born here.

“In this case, you are in a closed circle. You cannot extend your work permit, but when it’s finished, you have no place to escape. You don’t want to go to the war and die,” he said, adding that it could force many Ukrainians to stay as immigrants without authorized documents. “You don’t want to, but you have no choice.”

Andrii Shatskyi, a Ukrainian student whose work permit was set to expire in June, 2025, applied to extend it before the end-March deadline – but only got a one-month extension because his passport’s expiration date is July 1, 2025.

“I’m afraid because I don’t really know what’s gonna happen because there’s no certainty in this,” said Mr. Shatskyi, who lives in Hamilton with Richard Wybou, a Canadian who had been helping him before the war began. “You have to either get permanent residency by July or leave.”

Ms. Carbert said in an e-mail that if the applicant doesn’t have a valid passport, the Immigration Department may consider their situations on a case-by-case basis, but the onus is on the applicant to provide evidence to support such an application.

Pathfinders for Ukraine, a non-profit that advocates for those who fled, conducted a survey of 3,600 Ukrainians in Canada under the emergency travel program and found 90 per cent want to pursue permanent residency. They have incurred an average cost of $6,800 to come to Canada and 76 per cent of them are employed, the group’s survey found.

A pathway to citizenship would give “them that certainty. And for people who have gone through a war, certainty and safety are really important, especially as their kids are integrating into school, making friends,” said the non-profit’s executive director Randall Baran-Chong.

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Canada’s emergency visa applications for Ukrainians fleeing war to end Saturday

UN refugee agency says it counts 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees

A woman cries and comforts two children by the grave of a relative who died fighting against the Russian invasion during Orthodox Easter Sunday at the Field of Mars memorial on April 16 in Lviv, Ukraine. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, millions of refugees have fled westward to escape the fighting, with many seeking shelter in Ukraine's westernmost city of Lviv.

Photo: Getty Images / Omar Marques

Canada is expected to close applications for temporary emergency visas offered to Ukrainians fleeing Russian aggression Saturday — but hasn't announced whether it plans to offer long-term refuge.

Canada launched the emergency visa after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year as millions of people fled the embattled country.

The visa is available to an unlimited number of Ukrainians and allows them to work and study in Canada for three years while they figure out their next steps. Those who've come to Canada using the emergency visa aren't given refugee status in Canada, and instead are considered temporary residents.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser extended the program in March as the war stretched into its second year. The extended application period ends July 15.

More than 1.1 million people have applied and more than 800,000 visas have been approved as of July 1, though only about 21 per cent of the visa holders have actually come to Canada.

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Ukrainians who have already been granted the visa will still be able to come to Canada until the end of March 2024.

The government extended settlement services that are typically reserved for refugees and other permanent residents to Ukrainians with an emergency visa, and those services will still be offered until the end of March 2025.

We are waiting to hear what the government decides will be the new, July 16 and onward parameters for Ukrainians to come to Canada, said Ukrainian Canadian Congress executive director Ihor Michalchyshyn.

Even though there's a very large number of people who have applied — over a million people have applied thus far — there's still potentially some that haven't or whose situation may change and might need a temporary refuge.

Advocating for work permits

Last month, the immigration minister said Ukrainians could apply through traditional immigration streams while the government considers the best long-term plan.

The congress has urged the government to find ways for people to continue to come to Canada to work while they wait out the war.

Our view is that there should be open work permits for anybody who continues to apply to come to Canada, as well as some supports in terms of services and language, Michalchyshyn said.

He has also asked the government to continue to prioritize applications from Ukraine to hasten people to safety.

More than 6.3 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded by the United Nations Refugee Agency, and more than five million are estimated to be displaced within Ukraine itself.

Ukrainian refugees walk along vehicles lining up to cross the border from Ukraine into Moldova, at the crossing border point near Mayaky-Udobne, Ukraine last year.

Photo: Associated Press / Sergei Grits

Michalchyshyn said the war is not over and is unlikely to end soon, so it's important to give people some certainty about their options.

Nobody knows how long the war will go and how long people will be watching this situation to see if they can go home or not, he said.

We're looking forward to clarity, because that will help people make choices and decisions.

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The federal government also promised to offer permanent residency to Ukrainians with family ties to Canada. Fraser said last month that the program would launch soon, but he has yet to make an announcement.

We're hoping and waiting and we're overdue to hear from the federal government about a family reunification pathway. That's something we are eager to hear more about, because there have been people bringing their parents and siblings over, Michalchyshyn said.

People who are already in Canada with an emergency visa will have until March 31, 2024 to apply to extend or change their temporary status in the country.

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Ukrainians no longer eligible to enter Canada under CUAET special measures

Today, March 31, 2024, marks three key deadlines for the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program.

Two of these deadlines are specific to the program itself, while the third concerns what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) calls “post-CUAET measures”.

Deadlines 1 and 2: CUAET program

Today is the last day eligible visa holders can enter Canada under IRCC’s CUAET special measures. IRCC gave foreign nationals with a visitor visa under CUAET until today to travel to Canada and be eligible for the various supports offered through this program.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

According to IRCC figures cited by the Globe and Mail last week , “960,000 Ukrainians have been approved to join [CUAET], but, as of the end of February, only 248,726 had arrived in Canada.”

Note: Those who obtained a visa through CUAET and arrive after today (meaning April 1, 2024, and beyond) will be required to meet Canada’s general set of entry requirements. They will also not be eligible to receive CUAET-related supports from IRCC.

Additionally, today is the last day for those in Canada under CUAET to apply for an extension or change to their temporary resident status through this program. IRCC notes that the waiving of application fees related to these processes will also end today.

Deadline 3: Post-CUAET measures

For those already in Canada under CUAET, today also marks the deadline for visa holders and their family members to apply for an open work permit, for a study permit, or to extend their stay for up to three years under IRCC’s post-CUAET measures.

What is CUAET?

The CUAET program was established to provide “Ukrainians and their family members free, extended temporary status … in Canada until it is safe for them to return home.”

Under this special immigration measure, Ukrainian nationals and their family members (of any nationality) were given a dedicated pathway to obtaining temporary resident status in Canada for up to three years.

Important: The application deadline for IRCC’s CUAET program passed on July 15, 2023.

Eligible foreign nationals pursuing temporary residence through CUAET were not required to pay application fees associated with this visitor visa and they were also eligible to apply for an open work permit simultaneously. The open work permit application would also be provided at no cost to the applicant.

More: Click here for more information about CUAET.

Other initiatives to support Ukrainian nationals coming to Canada

Beyond the temporary residence options provided through CUAET, IRCC established two dedicated permanent residence pathways for Ukrainians with Canadian family ties. Both of these new immigration options are family sponsorship streams that took effect starting on October 23, 2023.

In both scenarios below, the Canadian family member of the Ukrainian applicant must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years of age or older, be currently living in Canada and not have obtained PR status through this special measure themselves.

The first stream is specific to Ukrainian nationals who are a family member of a Canadian PR or citizen. Specifically, the Ukrainian applicant must be related to the Canadian citizen/PR in one of the following ways:

• A spouse/common-law partner
• A grandchild
• A grandparent
• A sibling/half-sibling

Note: Visit this webpage for a complete list of eligibility criteria and additional details about the first permanent residence stream.

IRCC’s second permanent residence stream for Ukrainian nationals is dedicated to applicants “who are the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national who has family in Canada.” Among the eligibility criteria for this second pathway are the following:

• The applicant must be the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian national
• The applicant is the family member of a Canadian citizen or PR including their: spouse or common-law partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, and/or sibling (or half-sibling)
• The applicant is in Canada both when they submit their application and when they are granted permanent residence
• The applicant must have not re-married or engaged in a new common-law relationship with another person since leaving Ukraine

Note: This webpage contains the complete eligibility criteria and details for Ukrainians looking to pursue Canadian PR through this second pathway.

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Final rush of Ukrainians arrive in Nova Scotia ahead of emergency visa deadline

Iryna Lichna and her sons made it to Canada just in time.

The young Ukrainian family landed in Halifax less than two weeks before the deadline to use emergency visas issued under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel program.

The program started after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and allows Ukrainians to live, work and study in Canada for up to three years. Applications closed last summer, and anyone holding a visa has to use it by Mar. 31.

As the deadline looms, Nova Scotia is experiencing a final spike in arrivals, including Lichna and her two boys, 10-year-old Samir and seven-year-old Saleem.

Difficult decision

They were approved under the emergency visa program a year ago, but Lichna said moving to Canada was only a backup plan at that time.

The single mother said a friend reminded her last month that the visa deadline was approaching and encouraged her to take the opportunity.

"Really, it was a difficult decision because I didn't have so much [money] saved, and I just took my kids' backpacks … and we came."

Since the war broke out, Lichna and her boys spent nearly two years living in Turkey, but she said they were only surviving there. She worked long hours for little pay and struggled to learn the language and culture.

Lichna moved her family back to Ukraine at the start of this year. She thought they would be safe in Chernivtsi, a city in western Ukraine, because of its distance from the front lines, but they still heard air raid sirens most days.

She realized, she said, "there is no safe place in Ukraine."

She was worried about being conscripted into military service because she's a doctor. She believes her boys would eventually be sent to fight if the war continued long enough.

"I don't want to tell the people who lost [their] lives it is for nothing. But this, the payment of protection of our land, is very high, high price. And I'm not ready to pay this by [the] lives of my kids."

Now she is one of more than 4,600 Ukrainians to have come to Nova Scotia in the past two years.

Ukrainians approved for Canada's emergency visa can go anywhere in the country and do not have to advise Ottawa or the provinces if or when they plan to arrive, so it's not possible to know how many more will come before Mar. 31.

But aid organizations have been feeling the final rush of new arrivals. They're preparing for it to continue this week.

"We've seen larger numbers come out of uncertainty of what's going to happen in Ukraine, because they can always go back, I guess, if things get better. But after Mar. 31, it would be difficult for them to come," said Rick Langille, founder of The Ukrainian Store. 

Two years ago, The Ukrainian Store started as a donation centre in Dartmouth, N.S., collecting and distributing furniture to newly arrived Ukrainians. 

Langille said it's grown into a community hub for Ukrainians.

"They share information, they help each other find work, they help each other find housing, they help each other get drivers licenses, and they also have a lot in common … There's a bonding and a friendship aspect of it as well."

Langille said he expects donations to be in demand for at least a few more months as Ukrainians continue to get settled, but he expects the non–profit organization will keep operating even longer, shifting its focus to social support.

War still raging

Social support is a crucial part of Ukrainian settlement, said Lyubov Zhyznomirska, because many Ukrainians have fled to Canada without knowing anyone here.

Zhyznomirska is vice-president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress' Nova Scotia branch. 

She said it's important to note that although Canada's visa program is ending, the war in Ukraine is still raging.

"Ukrainians live with war every day and they continue to live with a war. So when we think about the number of arrivals, it's people who are escaping the war and instability and conflict in their country," said Zhyznomirska.

Lichna said she's worried the war will continue for years, so she's hoping to stay in Canada long term. Some days, she said the weight of building a new life is overwhelming, but she is trying to remain hopeful.

"When the war started, all my ambitions [were] destroyed," she said. "But still my spirit is not broken, and I'm ready to start from the beginning."

Canada prepared to welcome an 'unlimited number' of Ukrainians fleeing war, minister says

Immigration minister sean fraser says canada is waiving most typical visa requirements.

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Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced Thursday the federal government has created two new pathways for Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country to come to Canada — part of a plan to accept an "unlimited number" of people who want to leave.

To start, Fraser said his department has created a new visa category that will allow a limitless number of Ukrainians to come to Canada to live, work or study here for up to two years.

People accepted under the Canada Ukraine Authorization For Emergency Travel program will have an open work or study permit and employers will be free to hire as many Ukrainians as they want.

Fraser said the federal government is waiving most of the typical visa requirements but applicants will still need to supply biometrics and undergo a background screening process before leaving for Canada. The application process will open in two weeks' time.

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Fraser said the department is prepared for a possible influx of Ukrainians and there are biometric kits and personnel ready to assist would-be applicants at diplomatic posts in Warsaw, Vienna and Bucharest and at 30 other locations throughout Europe. Canada is also waiving application fees for all Ukrainians who want to avail themselves of this program.

NDP wants Canada to drop visa requirement

Fraser also announced the government is introducing an "expedited path" to permanent residency for Ukrainians with family in Canada. The minister said a "wider circle of family members" will be able to sponsor Ukrainians who want to come to Canada on a more permanent basis.

Some critics, including NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, have called on the government to drop the visa requirement altogether to allow all Ukrainians to travel to Canada unencumbered.

Asked about the possibility of visa-free travel for Ukrainians, Fraser said that sort of change would require 12 to 14 weeks of work to implement because the department's IT systems would need "certain renovations" and airlines would have to change their normal processes. He said the situation is urgent and there's no time for a three-month delay.

WATCH | Fraser speaks to CBC's Power & Politics about plans to waive most visa requirements

Feds waive most typical visa requirements for Ukrainians, but stop short of waiving visas completely

Fraser also said it's prudent to conduct background checks on all applicants to weed out any Russian collaborators. He said a blanket visa waiver would mean some people could "slip through the cracks," including people aligned with Russia who have attacked Ukrainian forces in the breakaway regions of the Donbas.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress said the new pathways will help some of the nearly one million people who've already fled the country.

"Canada, together with all civilized nations, is mobilizing in support of efforts to help these innocent people. Our community is grateful," the group's president, Alexandra Chyczij, said in a media statement.

"Russia is trying to destroy Ukrainian cities and towns from the air. These are crimes against humanity that are causing a humanitarian catastrophe not seen in Europe since World War II."

Canada slaps massive tariff on all Russian imports

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also announced Thursday more measures to tighten the screws on the Russian economy.

As punishment for what Freeland called a "barbaric" invasion of Ukraine, Canada is slapping a steep 35 per cent tariff on all exports from both Russia and Belarus — a country that has been used as a staging ground by Russian troops. The change could effectively halt all trade between Canada and these former Soviet bloc countries.

Canada is also levying sanctions on two major Russian oil and gas producers, Rosneft and Gazprom. The move follows an earlier decision to halt all petroleum imports from Russia.

With the addition of these two major oil companies, Canada has now sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

WATCH | UN planning for up to four million refugees

UN Refugee Agency plans for up to 4 million Ukrainians to leave the country

Freeland said Canada and its G7 partners already have imposed the strongest sanctions ever inflicted on a major economy. She said "more will follow in the days to come" as Russian forces continue to bombard Ukrainian cities with rockets and missiles.

"We will do everything in our power to make sure President Putin and his accomplices pay the price of this grave historical mistake," Freeland said. "We cannot allow him to succeed and we will not."

Freeland said Western actions have crippled the Russian economy.

The country's central bank has hiked the benchmark interest rate to 20 per cent — a move that will obliterate Russian savings and push up the price of everything. The country's stock exchange has been shuttered for four days.

Two major credit rating agencies, Moody's and Fitch, have downgraded Russian government debt to junk status, which will make it increasingly difficult for Putin and his regime to borrow any money to fund its war machine. The country's currency, the ruble, has been on a precipitous decline since the invasion and the resulting sanctions, dropping in value by some 30 per cent against the U.S. dollar.

"The economic costs of the Kremlin's barbaric war machine are already high and they will continue to rise," Freeland said. "I do want the Russian leadership to understand that we're going to keep going. There is a tremendous willingness among the world's democracies to just continue ratcheting up the pressure."

Government promises to address tariff fallout

At a separate announcement on support for small businesses, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is prepared to help any companies that experience disruption as a result of Canada's aggressive economic actions against Russia.

While Canadian companies have relatively little exposure to the Russian economy — two-way trade plummeted after Putin's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 — there could be some fallout for some importers now faced with a maze of red tape and eye-popping sanctions on the goods they bring in from the region.

With oil out of the picture, Canada's largest import from Russia is platinum.

WATCH: Trudeau says Canada's response to Ukrainian refugees is built off the Syrian refugee crisis

Trudeau says Canada's response to Ukrainian refugees is built off the Syrian refugee crisis

In 2019, Canada's largest exports to Russia were planes, helicopters and spacecraft, radioactive chemicals and animal feed. The recently announced ban on export permits could make it difficult for those goods to ever make it to their intended Russian recipients. Putin may also retaliate against countries that have levied sanctions on him and his country.

"Our approach on this has been to go as hard and as fast, as quickly as we could, in coordination with our allies around the world," Trudeau said.

"Obviously, this may last some time and as we move forward in this situation we will take a look at how we can minimize the impacts on Canadians. But our priority right now is sending the strongest signal of condemnation and penalties to Putin and Russia that we possibly can."

Canada deploys more lethal military aid

To help Ukrainians in the fight against Russian forces, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced Canada will provide more lethal aid to the country.

Anand said Canada is sending 4,500 M72 rocket launchers and 7,500 hand grenades drawn from existing Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) stockpiles. She said these supplies will be deployed "as quickly and as safely as possible."

This shipment builds on a previous commitment to send Ukraine up to $10 million worth of lethal and non-lethal aid, including sniper rifles, carbines, pistols, body armour and 1.5 million rounds of ammunition.

Canada is also granting Ukraine some $1 million to purchase "high-resolution satellite imagery," which will give Ukrainian forces the ability to monitor the movement of Russian forces as they continue their incursion.

"We are going to keep adding to the measures to support Ukraine sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. The brutality of what we're seeing on our screens is angering everyone," Anand said.

"A more violent conflict is not what Ukraine, Canada and the rest of the world wants or needs. We want peace."

The CAF also has roughly 3,400 military personnel on "high readiness alert" for a possible deployment to the region to offer more protection to NATO countries that border Russia. Anand said NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe will decide if those Canadian troops will be dropped into a country like Latvia in the coming weeks.

Canada already has troops on the ground as part of Operation Reassurance, which has placed CAF personnel in central and eastern Europe to carry out assurance and deterrence measures.

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Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel

• Thread starter MarsiaMS
• Start date May 24, 2022

Hero Member

Hello all, This is a thread for Ukrainians and family members of Ukrainians to connect regarding CUAET applications. Please share your timelines, questions and experiences. Did you face a rejection? Was it easy to apply? Have you already arrived? I'll start: I applied today, May 23, 2022 for my mother, as her representative. I am a Canadian citizen now, she is still in Ukraine. I did not include the open work permit with the application, as she's retired and doesn't speak English.  

Hello, I applied for CUAET visa for Ukrainians at the same time with open work permit. For some of you who is planning to apply, here is my timeline: May 25, 2022 - I submitted my application May 26, 2022 - i received letter for biometric confirmation and passport request on the same day June 8, 2022 - I received my passport with visitor visa inside. Visa duration is 26/05/2022-05/12/2029 However I did not receive letter of introduction for open work permit. My question is: will I get an open work permit at the point of entry at the airport? Because I didn't receive Letter of introduction to get work permit. My other Ukrainian friends got the letter except me. So I need to apply for open work permit separately?  

Artem Stelmakh

Dear Group Members, I'd be very grateful, if someone could clarify for me the following questions I applied for CUAET and the application has been "initially approved" in a letter of invitation I've received: "Your application to work in Canada has been initially approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The final decision to issue you a work permit and allow you to enter Canada is made after an examination by an officer in Canada. At that time, an officer will assess if you still meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, its Regulations and any other Canadian legislation." I'm not sure, do I need ETA to travel in my case? Probably not, as I can't get it as Ukrainian.. I have a booking on flight Warsaw-Frankfurt/Menem-Toronto - wouldn't like to have any problems during boarding.. and airline company can't clarify any of this for me.. Also, will I have to do check-in and luggage registration during each of two transfers in Frankfurt/Menem, and, then, in Toronto? Thank you very much for Your help!  

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Minister Hussen visits Ukraine to reaffirm Canada’s solidarity with people of Ukraine

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, concluded his first visit to Ukraine on August 21, 2024. The visit reaffirmed Canada’s solidarity with and ongoing support of Ukraine as it faces the devastation brought by Russia’s war of aggression.

August 23, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

In Kyiv, Ukraine, Minister Hussen visited Okhmatdyt Hospital, a specialized children’s hospital that has treated children from around the world, where he saw first-hand the impact of Russia’s attacks on health facilities. He also attended an event marking the 140th anniversary of the start of the women’s movement in Ukraine, where he reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to empowering local women’s organizations in Ukraine to defend human rights. He also met with representatives of Save Ukraine, a civil society organization undertaking remarkable efforts to return home the children unlawfully deported and transferred by Russia, helping reunite them with their families and supporting their reintegration. In addition, he spoke with veterans at the Kyiv City Clinical Hospital for War Veterans, where he learned about the physical and psychosocial challenges they face and saw first-hand their determination and resolve.

Minister Hussen paid tribute at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine to those who have lost their lives fighting against Russia’s brutal aggression and defending freedom. At the Holodomor Museum, he honoured the memory of millions of Ukrainians who perished in the Soviet Union’s man-made famine and heard about the far-reaching impacts of Russia’s aggression today, including on food insecurity in Africa and the Middle East.

The Minister also met with senior Ukrainian leadership, including Sergii Marchenko, Minister of Finance, and Dmytro Lubinets, Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, civil society organizations and Crimean Tatar leaders. Their discussions covered a range of topics, including Ukraine’s reform efforts, recovery plans and acute energy needs following relentless attacks on the energy grid, as well as the illegal deportation to Russia and unlawful transfer of Ukrainian children within the temporary occupied territories.

Minister Hussen announced that Canada will provide $5.7 million in humanitarian assistance funding, which will provide shelter, water and sanitation, emergency health services and protection services, including child protection and gender-based violence mitigation and response. This brings Canada’s total humanitarian assistance funding for Ukraine in 2024 to $28.2 million.

Minister Hussen also announced that Canada will provide $10 million over 5 years to UNICEF for a project that helps support the reintegration of children as they return to Ukraine from neighbouring countries, including those who were displaced and illegally transferred to Russia. It also will enhance quality family-based care options and child protection services for vulnerable children, such as those with disabilities and at-risk youth. 

“Ukrainian families have experienced devastating loss in the face of horrific acts of war. I was deeply moved by the resolve and resilience I saw in Kyiv. As Ukrainians continue to show remarkable bravery in defending their land, their freedom and their democracy, Canada’s support is unwavering.” - Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development

Quick facts

Of the humanitarian assistance funding announced today, $3.5 million will be allocated to International Medical Corps UK, $2 million to Save the Children Canada and $200,000 to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Along with the Government of Ukraine, the Government of Canada co-chairs the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The coalition works to address the unlawful deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children.

Canada recently announced a $20‑million contribution to support Ukraine’s urgent efforts to repair and replace damaged energy equipment and infrastructure to meet the energy needs of its population.

Since 2022, Canada has committed over $19.5 billion to providing multi-faceted support to Ukraine. This includes over $12.4 billion in financial assistance, which has helped the Ukrainian government to continue to operate, including by delivering essential government services and pensions to Ukrainians. Other Canadian assistance includes over $4 billion in military aid and equipment donations, $358.2 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, $442 million in development assistance and over $210 million for security and stabilization programming.

Associated links

• Toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine
• Canada reaffirms our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes
• Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
• International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children

Olivia Batten Press Secretary Office of the Minister of International Development [email protected]

Media Relations Office Global Affairs Canada [email protected] Follow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaDev Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international development - Global Affairs Canada Follow us on Instagram: @canadadev

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