maaxx.ca

Toronto: The Canadian government has ordered the seizure of grounded Russian planes at Toronto Pearson International Airport since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The federal government announced on Saturday the planned seizure of the Antonov 124 during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s unannounced visit to Kyiv. Officials said the plane would be taken in direct response to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

“Today we demonstrated that Russia’s actions continue to have consequences,” Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a statement on Saturday.

“We support Ukraine and will take all necessary steps, including this seizure, to put pressure on President Putin.”

A very large Russian cargo plane has been sitting on the tarmac at Toronto’s main airport since Canada banned Russian planes from entering its airspace in February 2022.

In a Facebook post in April, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he understood Canada was “preparing for the seizure of the AN-124 and that, along with other assets, it would be transferred to the Ukraine”.

This is something Canadian authorities have confirmed they are working on.

“If these assets are ultimately returned to the Crown, Canada will work with the Government of Ukraine on options for redistributing these assets to compensate victims of human rights abuses, restore international peace and security, or rebuild Ukraine,” the federal government said in a statement. , quoted by the Global Times, Sunday, June 11, 2023.

“The aircraft is owned by a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Airlines LLC and the Volga-Dnepr Group,” Canada said. Both entities were recently sanctioned against them as part of Canada’s response to the war in Ukraine.

The sanctions were imposed by the Canadian government on April 11 as part of a series of measures launched against 34 entities that the federal government said were “engaged in wars chosen by Putin, including several security targets linked to the Wagner group” and parts of the aeronautical sector.

“By authorizing the seizure of the Antonov 124, Canada reiterates that impunity is not an option for those who profit from Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine,” the federal government said in a statement.