In northern Ukraine, Canadian-donated armoured vehicles are a key line of defence

If Russian troops launch a renewed attack on Ukraine from the north, chances are the first opposition they'll run into is a Ukrainian soldier fighting them off in an armoured vehicle donated by Canada.

Among the key components of Canada's military aid package to Ukraine are Senator armoured personnel carriers built by Roshel Defence Solutions, of Mississauga, Ont.

The Trudeau government initially donated eight "Senators" in May. Defence Minister Anita Anand went to Kyiv Wednesday to announce a major expansion of the program, with a further 200 vehicles to follow.

"The vehicles offer state-of-the-art, best-in-class technology, and weapons can easily be mounted on them," Anand told a Kyiv news conference.

WATCH: Canada donates 200 armoured vehicles:

The $90 million cost is included as part of $500 million in Canadian military aid that was announced in the fall.

In recent weeks, Ukraine's military has been pressing the first of the Canadian-donated "Senators" into service in strategically key regions, including along the northern border with Belarus.

Russia's initial invasion last February against cities such as Chernihiv struck south from Belarus, and right now Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are again conducting joint operations with the Belarussian army and airforce.

While Western military officials say they do not believe another Russian offensive will come from that direction, Ukraine's military has improved its defences and is arming its soldiers with more powerful Western-made weapons — including Senators.

"You feel safe in them," said Ukrainian border soldier Vladyslav Piun, as he sat in the driver's seat and gunned the engine, speeding off down a rough rural road just a few kilometres from Ukraine's frontier.

"It drives quickly so you can escape quickly from the battlefield — and also your people can open fire (through a hatch at the top)."

A CBC News crew was invited by Ukraine's border patrol, which is a branch of the military, to visit one of the units that just received a new Senator two weeks ago.

In addition to the Canadian donations, Ukraine has purchased dozens of Senators on its own and other nations have provided them as well.

"I think it's amazing," said the commander of the squad, Andriy Solomianyi.