Trudeau says Canada is sending artillery to Ukraine — here's what that could mean

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week that Canada will send artillery to Ukraine in response to a request from President Volodymyr Zelensky — which would mark a shift in the nature of the military aid Canada is offering the embattled nation.

Though Trudeau hasn't said what type of artillery Canada plans to provide, he called the move a response to the shifting state of the war as Russia concentrates its forces in eastern Ukraine.

"We've been in close contact with President Zelensky since the very beginning and we're very responsive to what it is that they need most specifically," Trudeau said Tuesday. "Their most recent request from Canada is to help them with heavy artillery, because that's what the phase of the war is in right now."

Since Russia invaded, Canada has been largely sending the Ukrainians light infantry weapons such as rocket launchers, hand grenades and anti-armour weapon systems — weapons meant to be used by only one or two people at relatively short ranges.

"The equipment that we've sent is fairly rudimentary stuff," said Dave Perry, defence analyst with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.

The rocket launchers and anti-tank weaponry Canada has supplied are essentially "point and shoot" weapons that require little training, Perry said.

Those weapons tend to have a range of between 150 and 600 meters, depending on the model, said retired lieutenant-general Andrew Leslie, now a senior associate with Bluesky Strategy Group.

Canada has sent 4,500 M-72 rocket launchers to Ukraine. The weapon has a range of 150 to 200 metres "on a really good day," Leslie said.

"They're best fired in multiple volleys, so five or six people shooting at one armoured vehicle at a time," he said, adding that they are unlikely to take down a modern tank.

Canada also has sent Ukraine 100 Carl Gustaf anti-tank systems. Those have a range of between 400 and 600 metres, Leslie said.

Canada also has provided protective items such as helmets and body armour.

Compared to the weaponry Canada has sent to date, artillery would be "an order of magnitude bigger," Leslie said.

The U.S. recently announced an additional $800 million in military aid for Ukraine. President Joe Biden said that package will include artillery and ammunition.

Perry said the type of artillery Canada donates likely will depend on what the U.S. is sending.