Putin Showcases Captured Tanks in Moscow Amid Ukraine Controversy
President Vladimir Putin of Russia proudly showcased a collection of American and British tanks in Moscow, reportedly captured on the Ukrainian front lines, as per the Independent's report.
Among the vehicles observed parked in the Russian capital under red banners proclaiming "Our victory is inevitable" was a British armoured vehicle of the Saxon type, believed to have been donated to Ukraine in 2015.
The exhibition, scheduled throughout May, will feature an American Bradley tank, a Swedish CV90, and a French-manufactured AMX-10RC armoured fighting vehicle.
Furthermore, the Russian president plans to parade with the armoured vehicles, some of which bear British and American flags, to glorify the invasion of Ukraine. The exhibition will begin on May 1st and coincide with the Victory Day Parade on Red Square in Moscow on May 9th, marking Russia's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Ukraine, which suffered proportionately greater losses than Russia in World War II, views this as a manipulation of shared history to justify aggression. This is particularly significant as Russia lost as many tanks in the war in Ukraine as the total number it had in active service in its armed forces before Vladimir Putin initiated the invasion.
To address the shortfall, the Russian army has replenished its tanks from strategic reserves, concurrently escalating defence expenditures and preparing its economy for wartime conditions, as per analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
