The Russia-Ukraine Conflict - A view from Canada’s Defence Attaché

In his talk, Colonel Foster will speak to the following themes:

1. Canada's role in supporting Ukraine from a Defence perspective pre-24 Feb 2022;
2. Defence Diplomacy – Defence Reform, Enabling Trade and tactical level training;
3. The lead up to the invasion – sabre rattling and posturing;
4. The invasion – a failed operation into Kyiv, uncovering atrocities; and
5. Regroup and conflict in the Donbas and in the South of Ukraine.

Within each of these themes he will emphasize a few key points:

• Ukrainian Resiliency;
• Social Media Warfare; and
• Military Aid support.

About the Speaker

COLONEL ROBERT M . FOSTER, MSM CD

Canadian Defence Attaché - Ukraine

Colonel Robert Foster joined the Governor General’s Foot Guards in 1986 as a Guardsman. He chose a unique career path balancing part-time employment at unit, brigade and division level while employed on full-time service with the Army, Defence Research and Development Canada, and the Canadian Joint Operations Command.

Colonel Foster was promoted on 8 August 2014 to his current rank and assumed the the position of Director Army Reserve which he held for three years. He briefly retired from service to travel around the world with his wife and three children before returning to duty as the Canadian Defence Attaché to Ukraine.