A half-dozen CF-18 fighter jets sped off from the Canadian Forces base in Bagotville in the Saguenay to take part in NATO training exercises Tuesday morning.

The aircrafts, from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, will be based in Romania and join Romanian and U.S. air forces currently conducting operations.

Federal Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said that the exercises are a part of Canada’s commitment to helping defend the Ukrainian people.

The goal is to reassure Ukraine, which is under the threat of a possible invasion from Russia; Nicholson, in Bagotville Tuesday, said Russia's recent actions have been objectionable.

“The actions so far have been unacceptable by Russia and we're sending out a very clear message,” he said.

The jets will be supported by 228 military personnel, nearly all from Quebec.

Canada has offered to contribute to the measures put forward by NATO to promote security and stability in Eastern and Central Europe. An additional 15 operational planning staff were also deployed on April 22 to assist the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe staff in Casteau.

The pilots are "trained to perform air defence, air superiority, aerospace testing and evaluation, training, and tactical support missions," according to a press release issued by the Department of National Defence.

Along with economic sanctions, the planes will be a visible warning to Russia, flying as part of a regular aerial police.

The mission is fairly routine, said Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

“When we get there it's going to be day-to-day flying, like we do in Bagotville, except it's going to be training with Romanians and other NATO countries,” he said, adding that the mission is different than the 2011 mission to Libya because there is no imminent danger.

The ageing CF-18s are due to be replaced, but Nicholson said he isn't worried.

“I have complete confidence in the aircraft,” he said.

There is no time frame for the mission, and Blondin is asking military families to be patient.

“We need Canadians’ arms, warmth, to be around our families while we're deployed,” he said.