Canada has confirmed its unchanged position regarding the condemnation of Russia's actions towards the violent occupation of Crimea, including by opening a bridge across the Kerch Strait in May 2018, and called for the release of all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens.

A statement released on the website of the Canadian government on Saturday, July 28, says that "through its illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea, Russia has violated the international rules-based order and the vital international norm that no country can change another country’s borders by force."

"Canada reaffirms its enduring commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine and condemns actions taken by Russia towards the forcible integration of the Crimean peninsula into Russia, including through the opening of the Kerch Strait Bridge in May 2018‎," the statement reads.

The Government of Canada notes that since Russia's occupation of Crimea, Canada has witnessed severe human rights violations - committed by state agents of Russia - including the suppression of freedom of expression and association, arbitrary arrests, torture, detentions and disappearances and that many of these grave human rights violations were documented last fall by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"We call for the release of all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens, including Oleh Sentsov, who have been removed to Russia and sentenced by courts whose jurisdiction in Crimea we do not recognize," the statement reads.

In addition, the Canadian government says that Crimea's rich cultural heritage has also been targeted by Russia, including through the mistreatment of the Crimean Tatar population and their historic sites.

"Canada is steadfast in its support for the people of Ukraine. Together, the international community must maintain its pressure, including through economic sanctions, until Russia respects international law and Ukraine's sovereignty," the statement said.