Russia proudly displays its war trophies: among them even the American Abrams tank

Smaller weapons such as American mortars, German mines and an Israeli launcher are also on display.

One of the videos on social networks shows the Russians trying to shoot down one of the captured tanks.

Pictures taken during the opening show visitors taking selfies with the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank, its front gun pointed at the ground and its armor visibly charred and cracked.

“Our victory is inevitable. No Western military equipment will change the situation on the battlefield,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a message on the Telegram messaging platform announcing the exhibition.

Reuters news agency pointed out that the Russian state media gave special attention to the hijacked Abrams tank, about which TV presenters said that the tank, considered the pride of the United States, was not a “magic weapon”.

“It was all nonsense. Look, his whole reputation has been destroyed,” explained one of the Russian journalists.

Steve Rosenberg, editor of the BBC’s Russia news service, wrote that when he visited the exhibition he saw “a long line of German armored vehicles” with the inscription: “History repeats itself”.

Russia tried to present its invasion of Ukraine as a defense of its sovereignty against NATO. She repeatedly stated that Western equipment sent to Ukraine means that countries such as the United States are already at war with Russia.

The exhibition also comes amid the gradual withdrawal of Abrams tanks from the front lines in Ukraine amid concerns over Russian drone attacks. The US has provided Ukraine with 31 Abrams tanks, five of which have reportedly been lost in combat.

Each of them costs about 10 million. US dollars, and US tanks were once seen as a key tool that could help Kyiv regain seized lands. However, with the widespread use of drones on the battlefield, the Abrams’ effectiveness has decreased as tanks are easier to detect and attack.

Zuma press/Scanpix/Russian military trophies in Moscow

Recently, the US approved another 61 billion aid to Ukraine, which will replenish its forces with vital ammunition and weapons to counter the faltering but accelerating Russian offensive on the eastern front.

In response, Russian officials said the Kremlin had already gained the upper hand in the war and that the new aid package “will not change this dynamic.”