Captured American and allied equipment goes on display in Moscow

Western tanks, armored vehicles, and other military hardware supplied to Ukraine and captured by Russia are on display in Moscow ahead of a big Russian national holiday.

May 9th is Victory Day in Russia, which commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II according to BBC News, and Russia is celebrating in an interesting way. 

On display in a new open-air exhibition are the spoils of war: Western military vehicles that the Russians have captured from Ukraine during their nearly two-year invasion of their neighbor.

Among the vehicles being shown off is a British-donated tactical support vehicle known as the British Army Husky. It is sporting a windshield that has been sprayed with bullets. 

Another big capture on display is a damaged American Abrams M1A1 main battle tank. Kyiv was supplied with 31 of these all-too-important weapons from its American ally and they only arrived in September 2023. 

A German-made Leopard tank was also on display, though it is not clear from which of Ukraine's allies this vehicle came. However, it is clear that Moscow is enjoying showing off its war trophies.

BBC News reported that above the long line of German armor on display in Moscow is a sign that reads: "History is repeating itself." This is likely a reference alluding to Russia being in a similar position to the Soviet Union in World War II. 

“The Russian authorities want the public to think that the war in Ukraine and World War Two have a common denominator: Russia as the victim, under attack from enemies abroad,” wrote Steve Rosenburg of BBC News. 

Reuters reported that a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on the exhibition had reported the “history is repeating itself” line and alluded to the fact that the Soviet Union had also put captured Nazi war machines on display in 1943. 

"Strength is in the truth. It's always been that way. In 1943 and today. These war trophies reflect our strength. The more of them there are, the stronger we are," the ministry statement added before predicting a victory in Ukraine. 

"No Western military equipment will change the situation on the battlefield," the Russian Defense Ministry statement continued.

The Moscow Times noted that the exhibition went over well in Russia on opening day, adding that people flocked to the in to see captured Western military equipment. The scenes were not unlike those in Kyiv when Ukraine put on a similar display. 

“The Russians have not invented the wheel here. In the past Ukraine has displayed Russian military hardware that had been captured by the Ukrainian army,” Steve Rosenburg wrote. 

Russia’s exhibition features more than 30 pieces of Western equipment and comes as the United States has approved more than $60 billion in military aid and assistance for Ukraine according to Voice of America. 

Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov called the exhibition a “brilliant idea” and added: "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,” Peskov continued. However, the damaged and destroyed equipment will only be in Moscow’s Victory Park for one month according to reports. 

The Western equipment on display includes donations provided to Ukraine from Britain, France, and the United States, as well as hardware made by other nations like Turkey, Sweden, Austria, Finland, South Africa, and the Czech Republic according to Reuters. 

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