Canada is to provide additional $50 million in military aid for Ukraine, UK sanctions target Russian trade

Canada is to provide additional $50 million in military aid for Ukraine, UK announced new £1.7 billion worth package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus targeting trade. Russian troops block the evacuation from Luhansk Oblast. Here is what you may have missed from the night of May 9.

Canada is to provide additional $50 million in military aid for Ukraine and impose new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and those close to the Russian government, says the Office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Canada will provide 18 drone cameras, including in-service support and repair, $15 million of high-resolution satellite imagery, up to $1 million in small arms and related ammunition, and additional ammunition for M777 howitzers.

The country will also allocate $25 million from Canada's $100 million contribution for humanitarian aid in the region to the World Food Programme to address food security in Ukraine; and $10 million will be contributed to funding support of human rights, civil society, and demining in Ukraine.

Another 173 people were rescued from the Azovstal plant in besieged Mariupol. 10 buses with Mariupol residents are already in the territory controlled by Ukraine, says Mariupol City Council.

UK announced new £1.7 billion worth package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus targeting trade, reports UK government. Restrictions will raise import tariffs by 35% on chemicals, platinum, and palladium products. The office explains that Russia is one of the leading platinum and palladium producing countries and is highly dependent on the UK for exports of platinum and palladium products. The export bans intend to hit more than £250 million worth of goods in sectors of the Russian economy most dependent on UK goods, targeting chemicals, plastics, rubber, and machinery.

Weapons maker Lockheed Martin Corp plans to nearly double production of Javelin missiles, the antitank weapon that has helped Ukraine fight Russia's invasion, reports Reuters, citing Chief Executive Officer James Taiclet.

Taiclet also says that the plan is to boost output to 4,000 per year from 2,100 per year currently. He expects to see increased demand beyond the Ukraine war due to threats from Russia and China.

Evacuation from Luhansk Oblast is now suspended. Russian troops shell evacuation route Lysychansk - Bakhmut, says Serhiy Haidai, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration.

The evacuation bus heading to Bilohorivka to take people from bomb shelters came under Russian fire, which made the evacuation impossible.