Canadian armored vehicles donated to Ukraine often break down | War in Ukraine

Ukrainian troops realize that some of the vehicles donated by Canada have limited use near the front lines, a Ukrainian officer told CBC News.

In a recent interview near the besieged city of Kharkiv, Yuriy Fedorenko, commander of the Achilles drone unit of the 92nd^e Ukrainian brigade, mentions that Senator armored personnel carriers manufactured by Roshel frequently break down within his unit.

Il [le véhicule] is not designed for off-road drivingFedorenko added, adding that the vehicles appear better suited for law enforcement than combat.

It is more of an option for the police, for the protection of public order. But the vehicle fulfills its mission, it saves people. When there is no other solution, this is what we need.

Canada has donated 208 Senator vehicles to the Ukrainian military since the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia in February 2022.

And the Ukrainians pushed the vehicles hard. Senators, which look like sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on steroids, notably suffer from shock absorber failure when driven off-road.

It’s more of an option when it comes to riding on asphaltsaid Commander Fedorenko. This breaks down quite often. Despite these weaknesses, Ukrainian auto technicians managed to repair the Senators and keep them on the road, he said.

Not designed for combat, according to the ministry

Andrée-Anne Poulin, a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence (DND), acknowledged that the Ukrainian military had expressed concerns about the armoured vehicles and agreed that their usefulness near the front lines was limited.

She said that this model was already part of Ukraine’s stocks before Canada donated new vehicles. Roshel Senator vehicles were specifically requested by the Ukrainian governmentPoulin stressed in a statement sent to CBC News.

Ms. Poulin describes the Senators as security vehicles easily maneuverable and adaptable, equipped with cutting-edge technology and weapons. Although these armored vehicles are not intended for frontline combat, they enable the safe transportation of personnel and equipment, as well as medical evacuationsshe stressed.

Vehicle armor helps protect troops when they cannot avoid danger.

Ontario-based Roshel, which makes the Senator, said in a statement that it was working closely with the Ukrainian military. Conditions on a battlefield are often difficult. Roshel vehicles are designed and built to withstand these conditionssaid the unsigned statement from the Brampton-based company.

Our team has been on the ground since day one of the war, recording and addressing all issues to ensure continuous improvement. This proactive approach has resulted in ongoing improvements to key vehicle components such as axles and suspension systems, optimising their performance on a variety of challenging terrains.

Roshel has built more than 1,200 vehicles that are currently in service in Ukraine. Many of them were donated by European countries, in addition to Canada’s contribution.

We are committed to ensuring that if equipment durability challenges arise, we immediately and continually improve our products to address these concerns and better support the men and women who risk their lives every day.

Better than the Humvee

Defence analyst Richard Shimooka of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute says he’s not surprised that off-road reliability issues have arisen, given that the vehicle is relatively new and is undergoing a baptism of fire in Ukraine.

The analyst points to the first evaluations of the American-made Humvee (HMMWV) 40 years ago. The patrol vehicles did not receive rave reviews at the time, but they gradually became essential equipment, particularly for coalition forces during the Iraq War.

It’s clear that [le Senator] was not expected to operate fully on or around the front lineMr. Shimooka said, but he is forced to take on this role due to the lack of better options.

According to him, the Senator is certainly a better option than the HMMWV unshielded.

even if it means delaying the delivery of existing orders to Canada or other countries to give priority to Ukraine”,”text”:”I think that the government [du Canada] should have been more proactive in delivering LAVs [véhicules blindés légers] –even if it means delaying the delivery of existing orders to Canada or other countries to give priority to Ukraine”}}”>I think the government [du Canada] should have been more proactive in delivering LAV [véhicules blindés légers] – even to the point of delaying the delivery of existing orders to Canada or other countries to give priority to Ukraineconfided Mr. Shimooka.

Canada has donated 39 brand new armoured combat support vehicles to Ukraine and plans to donate 50 more.

According to a text by Murray Brewster, CBC News