Alberta supporting humanitarian aid in Ukraine

Alberta’s government is contributing $1 million to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to help coordinate and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

“Our government will always stand by Ukrainians and their elected government,” Jason Kenney, Premier of Alberta said. “I have been clear that we support Ukraine’s sovereignty and its right to defend its borders – and its people – against adversaries. Our hope is that there is a de-escalation of the situation, but in the meantime our government is proud to provide support to the humanitarian aid effort.”

Russian forces have unleashed an attack on Ukraine on the orders of Vladimir Putin, who announced a “special military operation” at dawn, amid warnings from world leaders that it could spark the biggest war in Europe since 1945.

On February 24, at about 5:00 a.m. Ukrainian time, explosions were heard near major Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv.

The scope of the Russian attack appears to be massive. Reports flooded social media as morning approached that the country of Ukraine was under attack from cruise and ballistic missiles, with Russia appearing to target infrastructure near major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Dnipro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMfpQVu1J_8&authuser=1

Russian troops in Ukraine have seized the Chernobyl power station and taken staff as hostages, according to local reports.

Alena Shevtsova, the advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office, says the Russians are in control of the area and are holding the personnel hostage.

“Alberta is home to more than 345,000 people of Ukrainian descent,” Ron Orr, Minister of Culture said. “Ukrainian Albertans have contributed so much to our province’s communities, culture and economy, so I’m glad we can contribute to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine when it is needed the most. I invite all Albertans to stand with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.”

Formed in 1940, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress represents the interests of more than 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians to all levels of government. The Congress preserves Ukrainian heritage, history, culture and language, and helps settle newcomers from Ukraine.

Information on how you can support the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in their humanitarian efforts is available on their website.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley made the following statement in response to the escalating crisis in Ukraine:

“The Alberta NDP stands with the people of Ukraine, and with all the Ukrainians who call Alberta home.”

“Alberta has the largest population of Ukrainians in Canada, and I know so many Albertans are deeply worried about what they are seeing overseas.”

“The escalation of tensions by Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin is wrong, and we join global leaders in both condemning violence and encouraging diplomacy and de-escalation of military actions.”

“We reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and our support of Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its democracy and institutions. In fact, I was very pleased to celebrate the opening of Alberta’s Ukrainian consulate when I was Premier and to declare Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day on September 7.”