Nearly 300 fleeing war in Ukraine arrive in Winnipeg

The first of three charter flights bringing almost 300 Ukrainian refugees fleeing Russia's invasion to Canada landed in Manitoba Monday afternoon.

The flight touched down around 2 p.m. local time at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.

The Manitoba government said refugees would be taken to the province's Ukrainian Refugee Reception Centre to receive help with settlement, including temporary accommodations, food and health-care services. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has said the three flights are to help bring approximately 900 Ukrainians approved for emergency travel into Canada.

The second one will leave for Montreal from Poland on May 29 and the third, bound for Halifax, will take off on June 2. Canada has already welcomed thousands of Ukrainians since Russian forces first attacked in late February.