Russia’s defense ministry Wednesday opened a month-long exhibition of U.S. and NATO heavy weaponry that Russian fighters allegedly seized in Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing war of aggression, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
The military equipment, numbering over 30, included a U.S.-made M1 Abrams battle tank and a Bradley armored fighting vehicle, a German-made Leopard 2 tank and a Marder armored infantry vehicle, and a French-made AMX-10RC armored vehicle, according to the report. The Russians will display these alongside firearms and military documents for a month at a World War II memorial venue in western Moscow, the report revealed.
The exhibition follows Russia’s seizure of three villages in Eastern Ukraine as Ukrainian soldiers beat a tactical retreat, The AP separately reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exhibition was a “brilliant idea,” according to The AP. “The exhibition of trophy equipment will attract great interest from Moscow residents, guests of our city, and all residents of the country,” Peskov reportedly said. “We should all see the enemy’s battered equipment.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova invited Moscow-based foreign diplomats to visit the exhibition to see how “the West destroys peace on the planet,” The AP reported.
“This exhibition will be interesting to all those who still believe in mythical ‘Western values’ or fail to notice an aggression unleashed by NATO against Russia and our people,” Zakharova reportedly said. (RELATED: Biden’s Pentagon Reveals Massive $6 Billion Weapons Package For Ukraine)
ICYMI — On Wednesday, Russia will open a new exhibit featuring over 800 units of captured NATO and Ukraine military equipment, such as the U.S. Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, the Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicle, and the French AMX-10 RC armored vehicle. (Kommersant) pic.twitter.com/XSua8oNHbS
— The Real Toria Brooke (@realtoriabrooke) May 1, 2024
Russian authorities reportedly deem the supply of Western military support to Ukraine as evidence that the U.S. and NATO are directly involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Meanwhile, senior U.S. administration officials said Russia has been receiving assistance from China toward expanding its military manufacturing capabilities on an ambitious scale last known during the Soviet era, CNN reported.
Also, the U.S. has accused Russia of using the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers and imposed additional sanctions on over 280 persons and entities, according to a statement from the Department of State. France has reiterated that it would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, according to reports.
“I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out,” French President Emmanuel Macron told France 24. “I have a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine.”