The Russian military wants to demonstrate its successes in the attack on Ukraine at a show of war trophies in Moscow. The loot shown also includes weapons supplied by Germany.
Russia is also displaying a German Leopard 2 main battle tank and a Marder infantry fighting vehicle at a war trophy show in Moscow, more than two years after it began its invasion of Ukraine. Even before the opening of the exhibition on May 1st, many curious Muscovites gathered in Pobedy Park (German: Victory Park) to look at the Western combat technology guarded by armed soldiers.
According to the military, this is captured military technology from Ukraine’s Western allies and from Kiev’s armed forces themselves. Russian units that destroy or capture such Western combat technology receive high rewards.
The show under the title “History repeats itself. Our victory is inevitable” has been specially organized for May 9th. The most important holiday for Russia commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. On that day there is also the country’s largest military parade in Moscow’s Red Square with thousands of soldiers, tank technology, missiles and a speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Criticism of German arms deliveries
The Kremlin chief began the war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022 and also sees the invasion as a fight against the West, especially the USA. Putin had particularly criticized Germany for supplying battle tanks and other heavy weapons to Ukraine because it was intended to kill Russians with German weapons for the first time since the Second World War. Ukraine, on the other hand, emphasizes that it will use Western weapons to defend itself against Russian terror and thus fight for its survival as a state.
The Leopard 2 main battle tank now on display in Moscow is said to have been captured in battles in the Ukrainian region of Avdiivka during the Russian advance in Donbass. The Marder infantry fighting vehicle is also said to have been brought out of Avdiivka at the end of March.
The trophy show features more than 30 exhibits, including from Britain, the United States, France and Australia, and is open throughout the month of May, according to the Russian military. In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, captured Russian combat technology is also repeatedly exhibited in the city center. With such shows, every warring party also wants to keep alive the belief in victory over the enemy.
Source: Stern
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