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
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
First court appearance for boy and girl charged in death of Halifax 16-year-old
A girl and a boy, both 14 years old, made their first appearance today in a Halifax courtroom, where they each face a second-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old high school student.