Thank you, and again it's great to see you virtually here.
I actually had the opportunity with former minister Champagne just the week before the pandemic started. We were at the base in western Ukraine, Yavoriv, where we saw in action Canadians, Americans and, I think, Swedes and Danes. Operation Unifier certainly has been bringing in other bilateral and NATO allies to help Ukraine, and it's the largest permanent mission, I believe, that operates in Ukrainian territory.
The expansion of that mission speaks to the trust and the deep relationship between the armed forces. I'm sure many of you have heard from the returning rotations of Canadian Armed Forces we see coming back. They tell us that they have learned as much as have the Ukrainians they have been training. They have learned about hybrid warfare and technology. They have learned with admiration about the battles and the real cost of the war that Russia's waging, because they are talking to these soldiers who have served on those front lines.
All of that being said, again we think the extension and expansion of Operation Unifier is wonderful. I think, though, we have to realize that that is a medium- to long-term goal in terms of a program. Right now, obviously Minister Anand has announced that even now, before an invasion has begun, those soldiers have been moved back to the west of the Dnieper River, to safer positions in western Ukraine.
Unfortunately, I think we all realize that the minute an invasion begins, for their own safety, we would be evacuating Canadian soldiers and missions. I think Operation Unifier is important, but as we're saying today, the defensive weapons would make an immediate impact and would remain behind in the case of an invasion.