An exhibition that might be considered provocative by some has been unveiled in Moscow, featuring more than 30 pieces of Western-made military equipment captured from Ukrainian forces. The display, which is open to the public for a month, is situated at a prominent World War II memorial venue in western Moscow and includes an array of heavy weaponry such as a U.S.-made M1 Abrams battle tank, a Bradley armored fighting vehicle, a German Leopard 2 tank, a Marder armored infantry vehicle, and a French-made AMX-10RC armored vehicle.
The Russian Defense Ministry, which organized this exhibition, has also included firearms, military papers, and other documents in the display. This move is seen as Russia’s response to what it perceives as NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict through the supply of Western weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.
The timing of this exhibition coincides with Russian forces capturing more land in eastern Ukraine, leveraging the delays in military assistance from the West to overpower the Ukrainian troops. The Kremlin appears to be sending a clear message about its stance on the ongoing conflict, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterating that Western military aid to Kyiv will not deter Russia’s strategic objectives.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, has praised the exhibition, declaring, “The exhibition of trophy equipment will attract great interest from Moscow residents, guests of our city, and all residents of the country. We should all see the enemy’s battered equipment.” This sentiment has been echoed by Russian military bloggers who draw historical parallels with Soviet displays of captured Nazi gear during and after World War II.
Moreover, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has extended an invitation to foreign diplomats in Moscow, urging them to witness firsthand how “the West destroys peace on the planet.” Her statement reflects that “this exhibition will be interesting to all those who still believe in mythical ‘Western values’ or fail to notice an aggression unleashed by NATO against Russia and our people,”
Notably, however, some have raised questions regarding the authenticity of the showcased items, specifically pointing out that South Africa, whose flag appears on at least one vehicle in the exhibition, has not donated any military equipment to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
The exhibition, which is described as a celebration of Russia’s success “against Ukrainian militants and their Western supporters,” comes ahead of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations and seems to be part of a broader propaganda effort to rally domestic support and showcase the Russian military’s capabilities.
Relevant articles:
– Kremlin parades Western equipment captured from Ukrainian army at Moscow exhibition, Stripes, 05/01/2024
– Kremlin brags about Western arms captured from Ukraine at Moscow show, Euronews, 05/01/2024
– Russia shows off NATO military hardware captured in Ukraine; Moscow to beef up weapons, front line forces, CNBC, 05/01/2024
– Russia’s Kremlin parades Western equipment captured from Ukrainian army at exhibition, Fox News, 05/01/2024