More than 300 Roshel Senators included as Ottawa expands aid and sanctions against Russia
A Brampton defence manufacturer is playing a central role in Canada’s latest military support package for Ukraine, as Ottawa commits another $2 billion in assistance four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.
More than 300 Senator armoured vehicles built by Roshel Inc. are included in the new aid pledge announced this week by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The commitment coincides with Ukraine marking four years since Russian forces launched their large-scale assault.
Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed that approximately 400 armoured vehicles will be sent as part of the package. Roshel says it has received an order for 383 of its Senator armoured personnel carriers (APCs).
Roshel, one of North America’s largest manufacturers of smart armoured vehicles, operates a $65-million production facility in Brampton. Since 2022, the company has delivered roughly 2,200 Senator vehicles to support Ukraine’s defence efforts.
The Senator APC is NATO-certified and designed for multiple roles, including troop transport, command-and-control operations, law enforcement and medical evacuation. It can be fitted with weapons systems such as a 7.62 mm machine gun and equipped with mine-resistant technology capable of withstanding up to a six-kilogram explosive detonated beneath a wheel or the chassis centre.
For some employees, the mission is personal. Volodymyr Revchuk, a Ukrainian refugee now working at the Brampton plant, said he takes pride in building vehicles that help protect Ukrainians on the front lines. The company has hired more than 250 Ukrainian refugees since the war began.
Roshel said the federal procurement supports both Ukraine’s defence needs and Canada’s domestic economy. In a statement, the company noted that the purchase helps sustain jobs and reinforces Ontario’s position as a centre for advanced defence manufacturing.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the vehicles will meet urgent humanitarian and defence requirements abroad while supporting local employment and innovation at home.
The military package also includes expanded sanctions targeting Moscow. A listing from Global Affairs Canada shows Ottawa is imposing new sanctions against 21 individuals and 53 entities, including measures aimed at cryptocurrency infrastructure and Russia’s artificial intelligence and drone production sectors. Canada is also joining allies in lowering the oil price cap in an effort to limit the revenue Russia uses to fund the war.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has said Russia must be held accountable for the destruction and loss resulting from what she described as unprovoked aggression.
Roshel has previously faced criticism from anti-war groups and some politicians over its halted export of more than 30 armoured vehicles to Israel, as well as the sale of 20 Senator vehicles to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Global Affairs Canada previously declined to comment on a reported $10-million U.S. transaction, and Anand stated that the federal government had not been contacted regarding permits for that deal.
As Canada deepens its financial and military backing of Ukraine, the involvement of a Brampton-based manufacturer underscores the growing connection between global geopolitics and local industry. The latest shipment signals continued Canadian support for Kyiv — while placing Ontario’s defence sector firmly in the international spotlight.