The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced plans to hold an exhibition featuring an array of weapons and military equipment seized by its military in Ukraine.
The exhibition, set to take place in Victory Park on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow, will open its doors on May 1 and run for a month, offering visitors a rare glimpse of a collection of over 30 samples of military hardware from various countries.
Russian media outlet Izvestia, citing a statement released by the defense department’s press service, reported that the exhibition will showcase weaponry from 12 different countries.
This includes the USA, Britain, Germany, France, Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Finland, Australia, Austria and Ukraine.
Among the notable exhibits will be the Leopard tank, the German-made Marder infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), the American Bradley, the Swedish CV90, and the French AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicle (AFV).
The trophy equipment will be prominently displayed on the square in front of the Victory Museum, organized into thematic zones with informative stands providing context and details about each piece.
The exposition will include large vehicles, small arms from foreign armies, combat documents, maps, ideological literature, and equipment utilized by Ukrainian forces.
On the same day, it was reported that trucks transporting captured military equipment from NATO nations belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine were seen at Poklonnaya Hill.
The observed equipment included the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) from the United States, the M113 armored personnel carrier, and Marder infantry fighting vehicles from Germany. These vehicles are presently awaiting unloading likely for an upcoming exhibition, the report pointed out.
Just a day prior, on April 23, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation disclosed that Russian marines had seized multiple Western-made weapons, including American Javelin anti-tank missile systems, during the liberation of the village of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
This exhibition follows a similar event held last year at Patriot Park near Moscow, where Russia showcased a range of captured Western military equipment, including an American-made M113 armored personnel carrier and a fully intact French-made SCALP (Storm Shadow) cruise missile, among others.
Russia Vows To Increase Assault
In a stark response to the recent passage of US military aid for Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu issued a direct warning. He stated that Russia would intensify its assaults on logistics centers and storage facilities housing Western weapons in Ukraine.
This declaration marks Moscow’s first explicit reaction following the approval of a $61 billion military aid package for Kyiv by the US House of Representatives last week.
Shoigu added that Russian forces have effectively debunked the notion of Western weapon’s superiority. He further asserted that Russian forces currently maintain the upper hand along the frontline, relentlessly advancing against Ukrainian forces that are outnumbered and outgunned.
“Our high combat potential enables us to continuously unleash fire on the enemy, preventing them from maintaining defensive positions,” Shoigu stated, addressing the ongoing military dynamics.
He underlined Russia’s commitment to augment the production of advanced weaponry in response to perceived threats posed by the United States and its allies.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that his nation did lose the initiative while anticipating US military aid. He expressed optimism that the influx of new weapons and ammunition would provide his embattled army with an opportunity to stabilize the situation.
However, Russian forces persist in their bombardment of Ukraine, employing missiles, drones, and heavy artillery while making incremental territorial gains.
Despite the initial setbacks faced during the early stages of the conflict, the Kremlin has increasingly projected confidence in Russia’s ability to secure victory in the war-torn region, more than two years after President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Transitioning from an initial blitzkrieg strategy to a war of attrition, Russia has capitalized on its numerical superiority and firepower to erode Ukrainian defenses over time.
Ukrainian military commanders on the eastern front have acknowledged Russia’s adaptation and evolution in tactics, noting a resurgence in the Russian army’s formidable capabilities.
In line with its military strategy, Russia’s defense ministry plans to equip its forces with state-of-the-art S-500 air defense and long-range missile systems, along with deploying new radar stations throughout the year.
Additionally, the production of existing anti-air defense systems, such as the S-400 and Pantsyr, will be accelerated, Shoigu confirmed.
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