Moscow Showcases Western Arms Captured from Ukraine, Kremlin Boasts

An exhibition of captured Western military hardware from Ukraine is currently on display in Victory Park in Moscow, Russia, leading up to the country’s Victory Day celebrations. The month-long open-air exhibition features around 30 tanks, armoured vehicles, and other weapons that were reportedly donated to Ukraine by countries such as the US, the UK, Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, and South Africa.

Russian state TV recently aired footage showcasing the preparations for the exhibition, highlighting the heavy trucks transporting the multi-tonne vehicles and cranes lifting them into position at Victory Park on Poklonnaya Hill. The display is described as a celebration of Russia’s success against Ukrainian militants and their Western supporters, with signs at the exhibition boldly proclaiming, “Our victory is inevitable!”

Among the showcased vehicles is a German Leopard 2 tank that reportedly encountered an anti-tank mine during a battle near Berdychi in Ukraine, resulting in damage to its right track. Other exhibits include a US-made M1 Abrams battle tank, a Bradley armoured vehicle, a Marder armoured infantry vehicle from Germany, and a French-made AMX-10RC.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov has praised the exhibition as a “brilliant idea,” some have raised questions about the authenticity of the Ministry of Defence-sponsored show. Notably, South Africa has not donated any military equipment to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, yet a vehicle branded with the African country’s flag is featured in the exhibition. The display comes as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine, taking advantage of delays in Western military assistance to push back the under-equipped Kyiv forces.