Weapons for Ukraine risk falling into the wrong hands

Our friends at Project Ploughshares made a sobering observation recently. Canada and other countries have been flooding Ukraine with weapons – but what if they end up on the black market and get into the wrong hands?

“There is the real threat that the Ukrainian government can potentially not control all of these weapons,” said Kelsey Gallagher to CBC. Gallagher is a researcher with Project Ploughshares.

There are many possible outcomes for the weapons being sent to Ukraine by Canada and NATO allies, although nearly all of them include the risk of materiel going missing.

“Whenever this conflict does subside … these weapons aren’t just going to go ‘poof’ and disappear,” Gallagher said.

According to the Department of National Defence, this is the list of military equipment Canadas has delivered to Ukraine:

• Canada’s intent to supply additional lethal aid to Ukraine, namely up to 4500 M72 rocket launchers and up to 7500 hand grenades; and
• A contribution of $1 million dollars towards the purchase of commercial satellite high resolution and modern imagery that will be provided to Ukraine.

Since Sunday, February 27, Canada has also announced that it will supply the following:

• Approximately 1600 fragmentation vests;
• Approximately 390,000 Individual Meal Packs;
• A commitment of at least 100 anti-armour weapons systems – Carl Gustav M2 recoilless rifles, as well as related accessories and scopes;
• 2000 rounds of 84 mm ammunition;
• $25 million in non-lethal aid, which could include helmets, body armour, gas masks and night vision gear; and
• Two C-130J tactical airlift aircraft and a team of 40-50 personnel to deliver aid and to support CAF, as well as allied and partnered efforts in Europe.

In February 2022, the Government delivered approximately $10 million worth of military equipment – lethal and non-lethal – to Ukraine, which included surveillance and detection equipment, personal carriage and load carriage equipment, machine guns, pistols, carbines, 1.5 million rounds of ammunition and more. The additional military equipment announced since Sunday, February 27 will be flown from Canada to an Allied neighbouring country as soon as possible, from which final delivery to Ukraine will be coordinated.

Read more from Project Ploughshares

(Cover: Members of Duke’s Company with the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia, conduct an 84mm and M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon range in the training area of Ādaži Military Base, Latvia on December 26, 2018. Via National Defence)