Russia flaunts Western tanks captured in war in Ukraine

I'm successful Victory Park, Moscow's elephantine memorial analyzable dedicated to the Soviet Union's decision of Nazi Germany. A caller open-air accumulation has conscionable opened.

But it has thing to bash with World War Two.

On show is Western subject hardware captured by the Russian service successful Ukraine.

They are warfare trophies and Russia has decided to flaunt them.

Among the armour present is simply a British Army Husky tactical enactment conveyance which had been donated to Ukraine. Its windscreen is covered successful bullet-holes.

Opposite the Husky I tin spot Western tanks that had been transferred to the Ukrainian military. There's an American Abrams which had been damaged connected the battlefield. A German Leopard tank, too.

In fact, there's a agelong enactment of German armour. And supra it a sign: "History is repeating itself."

The Russian authorities privation the nationalist to deliberation that the warfare successful Ukraine and World War Two person a communal denominator: Russia arsenic the victim, nether onslaught from enemies abroad.

In reality, the 2 wars are precise different. In 1941 Germany invaded Russia. In 2022 Russia launched a full-scale penetration of Ukraine.

The warfare trophy accumulation is packed out.

In agleam sunshine Russians are crowding circular the subject hardware, posing for photographs successful beforehand of vessel weapon barrels and, from the sounds of it, thoroughly enjoying the display.

"It's incredible. Jaw-dropping," says Natalya, who's present with her hubby and tiny daughter.

"It's astonishing to deliberation that our guys managed to get these trophies."

More than 30 armoured vehicles person been enactment connected display.

The Russians person not invented the instrumentality here. In the past Ukraine has displayed Russian subject hardware that had been captured by the Ukrainian army.

But for the Russian authorities, this accumulation has, I believe, respective cardinal objectives.

The archetypal is to reenforce the Kremlin's communicative that, successful Ukraine, Nato - and the West arsenic a full - are waging warfare connected Russia. The purpose present is to demonise the West yet further successful the minds of Russians.

In reality, it was Russia that invaded Ukraine: thing Western leaders had urged Moscow not to do. It was President Vladimir Putin's idiosyncratic determination to motorboat what Russia inactive refers to arsenic the "special subject operation" successful Ukraine.

With supplies of arms and ammunition, the West came to Kyiv's defence. It does not question to destruct Russia, contempt what Russian officials whitethorn claim.

Then there's the humanities symbolism.

Right present Victory Park is ablaze with reddish flags commemorating the upcoming Victory Day, the 9 May nationalist vacation which marks Hitler's defeat.

The venue for this accumulation (a World War Two memorial) and the timing (ahead of Victory Day) provender that different authoritative communicative I mentioned earlier: the 1 claiming a nexus betwixt World War Two and the warfare successful Ukraine.

But there's besides a ample constituent of gloating astir this exhibition. Regarding the warfare successful Ukraine, the Russians look progressively confident, contempt the caller $61bn (£49bn) bundle of US assistance to Kyiv. Moscow believes it present has the inaugural connected the battlefield.

Russia's main connection is written connected a large motion beside the warfare trophies.

It reads: "Our triumph is inevitable."