The Canadian government announced on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine the extension of Operation UNIFIER for three years. It is noted the extension of Operation UNIFIER allows CAF members to continue training Ukrainian recruits and leaders, strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself now and in the future. The Government of Canada said, as a partner, it will take the necessary measures to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position. This requires flexible, targeted military assistance that directly responds to operational needs on the battlefield. In this regard, McGuinty also announced $2 billion in military assistance for fiscal year 2026-2027, which builds on Canada’s continued provision of critical military support and will help provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with the equipment and capabilities they need to defend their territory. In addition, Canada will donate more than 400 armored vehicles, including 66 General Dynamics LAV 6 light armored vehicles and 383 Senator armored vehicles (Roshel).
To further support Ukraine at this important juncture, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced the renewal of Operation UNIFIER for an additional three years to 2029. Through this operation, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) provide ongoing military training, and capacity building in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Under the renewed mandate, the number of CAF personnel dedicated to the operation will increase, providing greater flexibility and enabling Canada to further adapt and respond to Ukraine’s evolving operational needs. The announcement of additional military assistance and the renewal of Operation UNIFIER underscores Canada’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Canadian government are ensuring Ukraine has the tools to defend its sovereignty, protect its people, and pursue a just and lasting peace. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine.
The Roshel Senator is a wheeled military armoured car produced by Roshel of Canada, based on a Ford F-550 chassis. As an APC, it is designed to protect against small arms fire. While designed as effectively a highly versatile SWAT platform, for peacekeeping and law enforcement activities, it is capable of light duty as an armoured personnel carrier (APC) or infantry mobility vehicle (IMV). Roshel classifies it as an APC. Production began in April 2018, with the vehicle entering service later that year. In 2020, during the Crew Dragon Demo-2 test flight, Senators were used to securely transport astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley. As of December 2025, according to the pro-Ukrainian website Oryx, 176 vehicles have been documented to have been destroyed, damaged or captured in service. The Russian website Lost Armour likewise contains 188 destroyed or damaged vehicles, as well as 12 captured vehicles.
The LAV 6, sometimes written as LAV 6.0 or LAV VI, is the fourth generation of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) family of armored personnel carriers, and is based on the LAV III. The first LAV 6s were delivered in 2013 and entered service in 2016 following a period of testing. The Canadian Army plans to replace its entire LAV fleet of various LAV II and LAV III variants with the LAV 6. The vehicle is being acquired in two main variants: a fighting vehicle equipped with the 25mm cannon seen on the LAV II and LAV III, and a support variant labelled the Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV). In early January 2023 the first ACSVs were spotted near the frontlines in Ukraine, after having begun to arrive since early October 2022, with the vehicles previously having been in rear-area units for training on the vehicles. Ukrainian Media reporting on the vehicles also dubbed the vehicles with a new nickname, the “Super Bison” due to the lineage the ACSV series shares with the older LAV 2 Bison series which filled an almost identical role.
