Canadian defence equipment crosses into Russian territory amid conflict

The tanks and armoured vehicles transferred to Ukraine by Canada may be used on Russian territory, the public broadcaster CBC reported, citing a Thursday statement from the Canadian Department of Defence.

Canada has provided Ukraine with military aid worth over €725 million, including eight Leopard tanks, dozens of armoured patrol vehicles, battlefield support armoured vehicles with medical equipment, and 155mm M-777 howitzer artillery pieces.

American television CNN published photos on Thursday from the Ukrainian border, showing a Canadian patrol vehicle entering Russian territory.

The broadcaster quoted a press statement from the Department of Defence, which emphasised that "Ukrainians know best how to defend their homeland, and we're committed to supporting their capacity (...) Canada places no geographic restrictions on the use of military equipment that we donate to Ukraine".

Previously, a number of countries, including the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Sweden, have given Ukraine permission to attack - within certain limits - targets within Russian territory using supplied weapons.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly emphasised that Ukraine has the full right to defend itself, which includes attacking targets outside its borders.