Canada’s Military Training Mission to Ukraine, 2015
and the Drawings of Canadian War Artist Richard Johnson
Curator: Bohdan S. Kordan
November 1-December 16, 2022
Opening reception: Sunday, November 6 2-4pm
OPERATION UNIFIER – CANADA’S MILITARY training mission to Ukraine – initially took place at the International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security, Yavoriv, 25 April 2015 – 13 February 2022. Canadian troops involved in the mission were drawn from the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment and later the 3ième Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment from Québec. Under their tutelage, a total of 33,346 Ukrainian soldiers were mentored.
In 2015, Richard Johnson, a field illustrator attached to Canada’s Armed Forces as part of the Canadian Forces Art Program, chronicled the life and routine of soldiering during the inaugural phase of Canada’s military mission to Ukraine. His poignant illustrations of vigilant Canadian instructors are matched by studied depictions of attentive Ukrainian volunteers – the two working in balance – each aware of their respective roles – each dutifully undertaking their responsibilities.
Documenting the teaching and learning, Johnson focused on the shared urgency of the moment, especially the effort to impart and acquire knowledge in the basics: weapons handling, tactical manoeuvres, combat medicine. The array of assorted uniforms with which the Ukrainian combatants were attired, and the variety of weapons, point to the hurried and improvised nature of their supply and deployment. Johnson reminds us that this is what invention in a moment of crisis looks like. Still, his drawings manage to capture the seriousness of the enterprise. The training was an exercise in both life and death, the mechanics of which are described in discerning detail, and the volunteers at Yavoriv would accept as normal. Even in the quickly composed sketches, a sense of the dedication and commitment among the soldiers is palpable, reflecting the danger of the task at hand and the importance of the mission to both Ukraine and its people.
No less significant is the meaning of the experience that Johnson’s images convey. The mission represents Canada’s contribution to Ukraine during a time of great need. In this regard, his work is an account of Canada’s commitment to a values-based foreign policy: freedom, democracy, rule of law. The policy goal, of course, was to preserve Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty in the face of Russia’s aggression. In 2015, when these drawings were created, whether Ukraine could prevail was unclear. This without question depended on the courage and resolve of each Ukrainian combatant. But it also depended on the acquisition of military skills and instilling in them confidence in the strength of arms. The training received from Canadian instructors helped promote the latter objectives. Putting pen to paper, Johnson meticulously records Canada’s role at this critical juncture. In doing so, he gives meaning to the idea of Canada in this world, and with this world.
Richard Johnson is an illustrator and journalist who has worked for the National Post, Washington Post, and Detroit Free Press. As a war artist, he has accompanied Canadian and US militaries on a variety of missions, including the Canadian training mission to Ukraine in 2015. His work is held by the Canadian War Museum, Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and the US National Museum of the Marine Corps.
An exhibit organized by the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage in association with St. Thomas More College Art Gallery. Proceeds from the limited series prints – numbered and signed by the artist – will be directed toward support of humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine through the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. The sale ends with the conclusion of the exhibition on December 17, 2022.
To purchase the artwork or inquire about availability, please contact
STM Gallery Director, Linda Stark at lstark@stmcollege.ca or 306.380.5310.
The price of each item is listed and indicates whether the item is framed or unframed. The cost of shipping is not included as it will vary with mode of transport. The buyer will be informed of the total cost. Payment can be made through e-transfer or cheque. Shipment will follow payment.
