Toronto man accused of supplying Russia's drone program is 1st to face prosecution over sanctions
On May 9, Russian troops paraded their tanks, armoured vehicles and missiles through Red Square, past the man who sent them to war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin.
The Victory Day procession in Moscow also showcased, for the first time, the military drones that have proven indispensable to Putin's invasion. But Russian drones are not really Russian on the inside.
They are built out of electronics purchased around the world by a global procurement network that allegedly relies on suppliers in several countries, including Canada.
Last week, Global News revealed the RCMP had arrested a Toronto businessman for allegedly exporting restricted goods to Russia in the months after Putin launched his 2022 full-scale attack on Ukraine.
The RCMP has now confirmed that Anton Trofimov was taken into custody on May 22. He has been accused of selling materials to Moscow that could be used to make weapons.
The arrest is the first under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA), which placed export controls on Moscow in 2014 in response to Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
'We can confirm that this is the first prosecution under SEMA based on the Russia regulations,' said Nathalie Houle, a Public Prosecution Service of Canada spokesperson.
The charges do not mention drones, but Trofimov and his companies were sanctioned by the U.S. in 2023 for allegedly shipping microelectronics to Russian military drone manufacturers.
Global News was unable to reach Trofimov or his lawyer for comment. He was released on bail after posting a $5,000 deposit and was scheduled to return to court in Toronto on June 30.
The RCMP said it was planning a news conference 'at the earliest availability' to announce what it called the 'important file' but would not answer questions about its investigation.
Advertisement
'Canada's sanctions regime makes a critical contribution to international stability as trade in certain kinds of technology and equipment could pose serious risks in maintaining international peace and global security,' the RCMP said in a statement.
'Individuals and businesses are responsible for ensuring the end destination of all exports do not fall under these sanctions. The RCMP will continue to pursue individuals or groups who attempt to profit from illegal trade.'
The Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa said it welcomed Canada's efforts to use sanctions to 'limit Russia's ability to fuel its war machine.'
'Sanctions must not only be adopted but rigorously implemented to remain an effective tool in deterring further aggression and atrocities,' the embassy said in a statement to Global News.
'Any attempts to supply Russia with technologies that can be used in its illegal war against Ukraine must be met with swift and decisive consequences.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
40 minutes ago
- Global News
Ford government again refuses to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic
The Ford government has again struck down a call to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario on the same day it restarted a committee studying the topic, saying it is still serious about addressing gender-based violence. Last year, the government backed an opposition bill that would have declared intimate partner violence an epidemic, but instead of passing it into law, it sent it to a committee tasked with hearing from survivors and advocates in the space. Those committee hearings ran through last summer and saw almost 90 experts and witnesses. Its findings were set to be reported back to the legislature in February before an early election call ended its work and stopped it in its tracks. Before rising for the summer on Thursday, Progressive Conservative House Leader Steve Clark moved a motion to restart the committee where it had left off. The move was agreed. Story continues below advertisement Immediately after, the Ontario NDP repeated its call for unanimous consent to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. Some shouts of 'No' came from the government side of the house, blocking it from passing. 'This government has heard loud and clear from survivors and their families, law enforcement and 100 municipalities that they must immediately declare intimate partner violence an epidemic,' Ontario NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam said in a statement Thursday. 'Today's refusal again ignores those calls and puts survivors at risk. The house will rise for the summer, and today the Ford government chose to deny survivors the immediate resources they need to escape or recover from violence.' Global News requested an interview with Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity Charmaine Williams on the subject. Her office responded to the request but did not agree to set one up. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She has previously said she did not want to 'rush' the declaration of an epidemic. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services listed a number of gender-based violence initiatives Ontario has either launched or signed up for. 'Ontario is addressing gender-based violence by enhancing cross-sector collaboration, increasing safety for women and children, and improving supports for survivors, their families, and perpetrators of gender-based violence,' they said. Story continues below advertisement 'That is why we are investing more than $1.4 billion over the course of Ontario's four-year action plan to end gender-based violence.' In addition to the programs and funding initiatives they listed off, they said the committee would 'continue its work' studying the issue. 'We look forward to working with all levels of government as well as sector stakeholders and Indigenous partners as we continue to build an Ontario that is free of gender-based violence and full of opportunity for all,' the spokesperson concluded On the same day that the Ford government rejected a unanimous consent motion to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, the New Brunswick government allowed one to pass. The Atlantic province passed the motion after discussions with labour leaders, among others. The union Unifor said, in a statement, that the move was a welcome step. 'The accepted motion signals the government's growing understanding, shared by the labour movement, community partners and frontline service providers, of the overwhelming need for funding, education and supports for those experiencing, fleeing and recovering from violence,' Unifor wrote. The government in Nova Scotia has taken the same step. 1:26 New Brunswick recognizes gender-based violence as an epidemic Back in Ontario, the province has been resisting the same call for some time. Story continues below advertisement In 2023, the province rejected calls from an inquest into the deaths of three women at the hands of their former partner to formally declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. The jury at a coroner's inquest into the 2015 deaths of Nathalie Warmerdam, Carol Culleton and Anastasia Kuzyk in Renfrew County recommended declaring the epidemic. The province said at the time it would not declare intimate partner violence an epidemic because it was not an infectious or communicable disease. –with files from The Canadian Press
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
A Russian missile and drone attack across Ukraine kills 3 in the capital Kyiv
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia targeted six regions of Ukraine with 407 drones and 44 missiles in one of its largest aerial attacks of the three-year war, Ukrainian officials said Friday. The nighttime assault killed three emergency responders in the capital Kyiv, according to authorities. The barrage included ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as a mix of strike drones and decoys, Ukrainian air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said. Ukrainian forces said they shot down about 30 of the cruise missiles and up to 200 of the drones.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police investigating after vehicle crashes into Cirque du Soleil arena in Vancouver
VANCOUVER – Vancouver police say it's a 'miracle' no one was injured after a vehicle crashed into the Pacific Coliseum arena on Thursday evening. Police say a vehicle drove into the front entrance of the building around 8 p.m. while a Cirque du Soleil show was taking place. They say a 30-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested under the Mental Health Act and the crash does not appear to be an act of terrorism. In a post to social media platform X, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says he's grateful that no one was hurt. Sgt. Steve Addison told Global News that police don't believe there's a link between this and the Lapu Lapu Day Festival attack in Vancouver. The ramming attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival on April 26 killed 11 people and injured dozens more. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
