Hundreds of pieces of heavy military equipment seized by Russian troops during the campaign against Ukraine have been put on display as part of a massive open-air exhibition just outside of Moscow. Visitors are able to view both Ukrainian-made weapons and those provided to Kiev by the West.
Videos published in Russian media showed dozens of trophy weapons lined up at the ‘Patriot Park’ venue located west of the Russian capital. The exhibition is part of the international military and technical forum ‘Army-2023’.
The Russian Defense Ministry, which organized the event, said the exhibition includes everything from American M-113 armored personnel carriers and Swedish CV90-40’s to French wheeled AMX-10RCR tanks and Australian Bushmaster armored vehicles.
According to the ministry, the event features a fair amount of British-made equipment such as Husky and Mastiff armored vehicles. Accompanying descriptions also relate how and where each weapon was captured by Russian troops.
Over 870 types of armaments seized by Russian forces were provided for the exhibition. Most examples are either Soviet-made or produced in Ukraine. The event features not only ground equipment, but also several patrol boats captured in the Black Sea port city of Mariupol.
The Russian Defense Ministry regularly reports on the destruction of Ukrainian systems in the ongoing conflict. According to the ministry, Kiev’s military has lost some 5,000 pieces of heavy equipment in largely unsuccessful attempts to break through Russian defenses since the start of their counteroffensive in early June.
Russia’s armed forces also regularly publish photos and videos of captured Ukrainian vehicles, including Western-made examples. One such clip featured a German-made Leopard tank.
READ MORE: Some Soviet weaponry still better than modern Western equivalents – Shoigu
Earlier this week, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that there is “nothing unique or invulnerable to Russian weapons,” including Western-made arms. Some Soviet-era weapons have even proven to be superior in combat to their modern Western equivalents, he added.
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