GTA company transforming Ford F-550s into armoured vehicles for Ukrainian war effort
Walking through his Mississauga, Ont. factory, Roman Shimonov says he’s excited that his armoured personnel carriers will be part of the Ukrainian war effort.
"We truly believe that these vehicles are extremely needed in Ukraine," he says.
Shimonov is the CEO of Roshel Smart Armoured Vehicles and creator of the Senator Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) – a large green vehicle made of certified ballistic steel and 100 mm glass windows.
The Senator APC has been used by NASA, the United States State department, and various police forces – and it’s been in action in Ukraine since April 2022.
Shiminov said the vehicles help evacuate people from the conflict zones, adding, "they take part in reconnaissance and surveillance operations and we feel nothing but proud."
Last week, the Canadian government committed 200 of Roshel's Senator APCs to Ukraine at a cost of $90-million.
While touring the Roshel factory, Shiminov eagerly showed how the vehicles are built entirely in-house, allowing for fast builds.
"The biggest challenge is to make sure that all of the components will be ready on time so we can produce four vehicles every day," he said.
Designed in 2018, the Senator starts with the base of a Ford F-550. Then, the walls of ballistic steel and 100 mm windows are added. The Senator also has an in-house designed computer system that allows it to be driven remotely.
Shimonov said there is much more at stake than just filling an order. His wife is Ukrainian and, as he points to one section of the factory, he said, “Most of the people here are Ukrainian refugees.”
Since the start of the war, Roshel has hired 80 Ukrainian refugees.
One of them is 68-year-old Volodymyr Moyseyev. A welder by trade, Moyseyev was visiting family in Canada when the war broke out, so he stayed and applied for a job.
Working by himself in the back, Moyseyev said, "I used to build ships in the shipyard. And now I build armoured personnel carriers."
Volodymyr Moyseyev, 68, can be seen above.
Roshel's contribution is being recognized by Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky who tweeted a thank you to Justin Trudeau and defence minister Anita Anand.
"The Ukrainian army needs 200 Senator APC's more than ever. Together we are moving towards victory,” the tweet said.
Shimonov said this is a unique opportunity for his Ukrainian workers, who may have otherwise felt helpless.
"These people can help their country by building vehicles that in a very short time will be in a conflict zone," he said.
Shimonov said they are in constant contact with the Ukrainian military in order to make adjustments to their design. With production moving 24/7, all 200 Senator APC's will be delivered by summer.
Shimonov said he’s had to pay a price for his involvement -- he’s one of four people at Roshel who are sanctioned by the Russian government. He has also decided to armour his own vehicle, just to be safe, he said.
Moyseyev said that his job at Roshel is only part of the work he and his family have ahead of them.
"After everything is settled in Ukraine, and I'll be able to bring my family back from Canada, I will go and I will rebuild," he said.
“We'll build the houses. We'll rebuild the schools. Kindergartens. And everything else that will be required."
Until then, the work and the war effort continues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.
BREAKING Mounties will not be charged in shooting death of B.C. Indigenous man
Three Mounties in British Columbia will not face charges in the killing of a 38-year-old Indigenous man on Vancouver Island in 2021.
College students, inmates and a nun: A unique book club meets at one of America's largest jails
An unconventional book club inside one of America's largest jails brings college students and inmates together to tackle books that resonate with the mostly Black and Latino group members.