"Aside from our business, we'll be ready to help whenever and however we can." Mike Friesen, CEO of Elmer's Manufacturing, has made that vow to his contacts in Ukraine as the war in that country enters into its second week.

The agricultural equipment manufacturer, located just north of Altona in the Municipality of Rhineland, has been shipping its grain carts and harrows to Ukraine since 2011.

Checking in with his contacts in Ukraine the week before the invasion, Friesen said it seemed like they were a little concerned about what might happen.

"...seemed to be the usual theatrics, I guess, that they were maybe used to," he said, noting some have since either left the country, or stayed to preserve their farms and arrange logistical support in their communities. He explained, producers in that country have crop that's been sold and needs to get shipped out, but there are no trucks to move it or ships to put it on. "It's probably not business as usual for them, but they're farmers solving some problems."

Friesen noted, Elmer's is in a position to help in any way possible.

"Probably the biggest thing right now is helping them spread the word," he said, noting he's reached out to Canada's Trade Commissioner to see about finding some networks to get those farmers hooked up with supplies.

Friesen added, the company has also reached out to be a contact for any refugees coming to Canada.

"There's a lot of steps there that need to be taken, but aside from our business we'll be ready to help whenever and however we can."

Personally for Friesen, who travelled to Ukraine for work in 2013, it's been shocking to hear the things his contacts are reporting back to him.

"The ones that left one of the farms, they did report that the military was living in it after they'd left and it had been bombarded by missiles and shelling. To them, it didn't seem like there was much thought as to what was getting hit, whether it was civilian or military."