First ten armoured vehicles promised to Ukraine to be delivered by summer, Blair says

Defence Minister Bill Blair says the first ten of 50 Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) promised to Ukraine last year will be delivered to the war-torn country by this summer, but likely won't be fully in service until the fall.

Additionally, he said, 10 Multirole Boats from Zodiac Hurricane Technologies — promised in January — are set to be delivered in July, and they include training for Ukrainian operators as well as spare parts.

The remarks from the defence minister come a week after a leading Ukrainian politician met with Blair and a number of Canadian lawmakers and pleaded for more armoured vehicles.

Oleksandra Ustinova, the head of Ukraine's special parliamentary commission on arms and munitions, told the minister, members of key House of Commons committees and military leaders that both time and weapons stocks are running out for her country.

Last year, figures put before the House of Commons revealed the Canadian army has 195 LAV II Bisons and 149 Coyote armoured reconnaissance vehicles that have been, or are about to be, taken out of service.

The assessment was made after the United States finally approved a new series of arms supplies, despite concerns that the assistance won't reach Ukraine in time.