Key Takeaways:
- The Russian military planted mines in playgrounds, parks, and in front of family homes in Irpin, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
- She went on to say that 50,000 people were evacuated from Irpin, which was popular with young families before Russia struck.
- During his visit with Joly and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau reopened the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv and expressed unwavering support for the embattled country.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, the Russian military put mines in playgrounds, parks, and in front of family homes in Irpin. She recently visited the town with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
On Sunday, Joly traveled to Kyiv and Irpin with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reopen Canada’s embassy in Ukraine.
Before Russian troops departed, the foreign minister was instructed not to step off the pavement in Irpin because the Russians had buried so many mines throughout the town, including around people’s homes.
“They were planting mines everywhere,” she said in a Tuesday interview from Berlin, “not only around condo complexes that we witnessed that were thoroughly blasted, but they were putting mines in parks, in parks, in front of houses, behind houses.”
Also read: Brazil and Argentina must compete in a World Cup qualifier, as per FIFA
Irpin was strategically vital to the Russians in their attempt to conquer Kyiv, according to Joly. It is located near Bucha, where Russian war crimes against civilians are being probed.
She added that before Russia attacked, 50,000 inhabitants were evacuated from Irpin, which was popular with young families.
“Irpin is a city that is comparable to a Toronto or Montreal suburb,” she remarked. “It’s a city that caters mostly to first-time homebuyers.” Young families purchase their first residences, their first condo flat, and raise their children there. There are many playgrounds, and there are generally many strollers.”
Although Russian troops have left, she believes it is still too hazardous for families with children to return to the Kyiv area until the mines are identified and cleaned.
According to the minister, Canada is proficient in mine clearing and is providing Ukraine with that expertise and $2 million in funds for the Halo Trust, which clears mines and explosives.”
“We are demining experts,” she explained. “We were the ones who reached up with the idea for the worldwide landmine convention. Landmines are also dealt with using Canadian technology. We have a great deal of experience.”
She also stated that Canada is funding mine awareness education for Ukrainian adults and children.
Trudeau reopened the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv and voiced steadfast support for the troubled country during his visit with Joly as well as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
For the 1st time since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, he visited Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced $50 million in new Canadian military support for Ukraine, such as drone cameras, satellite imagery, small guns and ammunition and demining funding.
Source: CTV News
