Canada will deploy about 150 troops to Poland to support Ukrainians fleeing the war in Russia and deal with the growing refugee crisis, Defense Minister Anita Anand said on Thursday. Reuters.

Most of those military personnel will take part in medical care for Ukrainian refugees at reception centers across Poland, Anand said.

"Our people will provide general support, spiritual services and limited medical care provided by staff of the Canadian-speaking Canadian Armed Forces," Anand told reporters.

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces will also support a Polish-led humanitarian aid task force and assist in the relocation of Ukrainians to Canada.

More than 4,6 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since Russia invaded on February 24, the largest attack on a European country since 1945. According to the United Nations, more than half of them went to neighboring Poland.

"Prime Minister Trudeau and I have been in close contact with our counterparts in Poland, as well as with the great NATO alliance, and we are committing these additional resources under the guarantee of the operation, which is our mission to support NATO's east wing," Anand told of journalists.

Canada, like other Western countries, has imposed extensive economic sanctions on Russia and sent military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. It has committed more than C $ 1,2 billion in direct contributions to Ukraine.

Trudeau's liberal government has also created a special scheme for Ukrainians and their families to apply for a temporary resident visa. According to official figures, Canada has approved more than 30.000 applications for temporary residence as of April 6.

Trudeau also uses the term "genocide" after Biden to refer to events in Ukraine, Macron and Scholz refrain