A video circulating on social media shows Russian authorities damaging a captured NATO tank from the battlefield in Ukraine before it was put on display as part of a monthlong exhibition in Moscow.
The footage, shared on Telegram by Russian military blogger Kirill Fedorov, showed the gun of a Leopard 2A6 tank—provided to Ukraine by Germany for the ongoing war—being bent and weighed down by a large block of metal.
An exhibition of "trophy equipment of the AFU", which the Russians shot down during the invasion of Ukraine, has been opened on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 1, 2024
The exhibition shows M1 Abrams, Leopard 2A6, T-72 tanks.
Earlier also appeared a video showing a Leopard 2 tank being bent… pic.twitter.com/zkdEgrk4NW
"They lowered the proudly raised cannon so that [the] Leopard looked like a defeated one," Russian news outlet RG.ru reported on Wednesday.
The tank is being displayed as part of a monthlong exhibition in Moscow, which started on May 1. The Russian Ministry of Defense said last week that more than 30 samples of military equipment made in Australia, Austria, the United Kingdom, the U.S., Turkey, Ukraine, France, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden and South Africa, would be showcased at Moscow's Victory Park. The Leopard 2A6 appears to be a new addition.
The exhibition, located on Poklonnaya Hill, includes an array of Western equipment captured by Russian forces throughout the ongoing war in Ukraine. This includes the U.S. Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, the Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicle, and the French AMX-10 RC armored vehicle, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported.
On Monday, a Russian official said a U.S.-made M1 Abrams tank that was captured by the Russian military from Ukraine's forces will also be propped up on display.
Russia's Victory Park is an open-air museum focused on commemorating Nazi Germany's defeat during World War II—known in Russia as the Great Patriotic War. It displays many tanks and other vehicles that were used.
Speaking to Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti on Wednesday, a museum employee said that much of the "trophy" exhibits are in good condition. The sheer volume of equipment provided to Ukraine by NATO nations has meant that Kyiv is "forced to throw them into battle without being able to quickly carry out repairs."
The exhibition will coincide with Moscow's Red Square Victory Day parade on May 9 to commemorate World War II.
Victory Day in the capital is typically marked with President Vladimir Putin addressing crowds and a military parade at the Red Square. The Russian leader typically uses the day of national celebration to show off the country's military power.
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Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
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