Extract from ABC News
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered a heartfelt thanks to Canada for its help in the war against Russia, saying Ottawa's aid had helped save thousands of lives.
Key points:
- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledges additional aid for Ukraine
- Ukraine claims responsibility for missile attacks on Russia's Black Sea navy in Crimea
- Crimea has been a frequent target of Ukrainian attacks in the course of the war
Mr Zelenskyy made his remarks in a speech to Canada's parliament, where the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine's defence against the Russian invasion of February 2022.
Canada has provided Ukraine with $C9 billion ($10 billion) in military and other aid.
"Canadian support for Ukraine with weapons and equipment has allowed us to save thousands of lives," said Mr Zelenskyy, making his first visit to Canada since the start of the war.
"Canada's leadership in sanctions against Russia for this war and terror really encouraged others in the world to follow your lead," he said to loud applause.
Although a counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces to reclaim territory occupied by Russian troops has bogged down, Mr Zelenskyy reiterated comments from last month in which he predicted victory.
"So that Russia will never bring back genocide to Ukraine, and will never ever try to do so, Moscow must lose once and for all, and it will lose," he said.
Shortly before Mr Zelenskyy spoke, Mr Trudeau said Canada would be offering an extra $C650 million ($749 million) in military aid over three years to supply Ukraine with 50 armoured vehicles.
Ottawa would also send trainers to help Ukrainian pilots on western F-16 fighter jets, he said.
"We will continue to work with our partners including within NATO to provide unwavering support. And we will continue to provide economic support to Ukraine over the next year so that it remains a strong, dynamic and prosperous democratic country," Mr Trudeau said.
There are 1.4 million people of Ukrainian descent in Canada, the third most after Ukraine and Russia.
Ukraine launches missile strike on Russian navy base
Ukraine carried out a missile strike on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, according to officials on both side of the conflict.
Russia's defence ministry said one serviceman was missing after the attack, while its air defences had shot down a total of five missiles.
Videos and photos showed large plumes of smoke over the building in Sevastopol in annexed Crimea.
The Russian-installed governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said firefighters were battling a blaze, and more emergency forces were being brought in, an indication that the fire could be massive.
Mr Razvozhayev said there were no civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure.
Ukraine's military confirmed it was behind the attack, but gave few details.
"On September 22 close to 12:00 (19:00 AEST) Ukraine's defence forces successfully struck the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea fleet command in the temporarily occupied Sevastopol," it said on the Telegram messaging app.
The country's air force commander posted a video of air sirens blazing and smoke rising from the building along with a message thanking the pilots.
"We promised that 'there will be more,'" Leutenant General Mykola Oleschuk said.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's Security Council said there were two options for the future of the Russia's Black Sea fleet — voluntary or forced "self-neutralisation".
If it did not choose the voluntary option, it "will be sliced up like a salami," he said on X.
A stream of ambulances were arriving at the fleet's headquarters and shrapnel was scattered hundreds of meters around, Russia's TASS news agency reported.
Mr Razvozhayev initially warned Sevastopol residents that another attack was possible and urged them not to leave buildings or go to the city centre.
He later said there was no longer any air strike danger but reiterated calls not to go to the central part of the city, saying roads were closed and and unspecified "special efforts" were underway.
Ukrainian officials, who have claimed responsibility for a series of other recent attacks on Crimea, didn't immediately announce Kyiv launched the strike.
Sevastopol residents said they heard explosions in the skies and saw smoke, Russian news outlets reported.
Images circulated in Ukrainian Telegram channels showed clouds of smoke over the seafront. The Associated Press could not immediately verify the videos.
The attack comes a day after Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Joe Biden and congressional leaders in Washington with an additional $US24 billion ($37 billion) aid package being considered.
The port city of Sevastopol serves as the main base for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Last week, the Russian-installed authorities there accused Ukraine of attacking a strategic shipyard in the city, damaging two ships undergoing repairs and causing a fire at the facility.
Ukrainian officials have described attacks on Russian military targets in Russian-held territory as legitimate.
The Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 in an act that most of the world considered illegal, has been a frequent target since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 18 months ago.
The attack on the shipyard was the biggest in weeks.
AP/Reuters
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