(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Alongside the German-made Leopard 2A6 tanks, the American-made M1A1 Abrams tanks captured by Russian forces from the battlefields in Ukraine represent a significant “war trophy” for the Russian military.
These tanks, which showcase advanced Western technology, will be displayed to the public in Moscow at an exhibition at Victory Park on May 1st.
The exhibition, starting May 1st, will run for a month, featuring various types of weaponry from Western countries and Ukraine that have been seized by Russian forces in the conflict with Ukraine.
The Abrams tank, transported to Victory Park on a tank transporter, arrived at midnight after a journey from the battlefield in Avdiivka, southern Ukraine.
Russian military engineers exerted considerable effort to retrieve the Abrams tank from Avdiivka to ensure its inclusion in the Victory Park exhibition.
The 70-ton Abrams tank has suffered severe damage due to Russian military fire.
To date, Russian forces have destroyed five of the 31 Abrams tanks supplied by the United States to Ukraine, significantly tarnishing the Abrams’ reputation, often touted by Washington as the “world’s best tank.”
In early March, the first M1A1 Abrams operated by Ukraine was confirmed destroyed, likely due to a strike from a Russian “Lancet” suicide drone in the Avdiivka combat zone.
Due to the increasing number of Abrams tanks being destroyed by Russian forces, Ukraine—possibly on Washington’s direction—has had to withdraw these tanks from the battlefields.
This is due to the severe threat posed by Russian reconnaissance and suicide drones.
Two U.S. military officials told The Associated Press that the Abrams tanks donated by the United States cannot operate on the battlefield undetected and targeted by Russian drones.
Due to this threat, five of the 31 Abrams tanks donated by the United States to Ukraine have been confirmed destroyed by Russian forces so far.
The United States provided 31 Abrams tanks, each valued at US$10 million (RM45 million), to Ukraine in January last year to help its forces counter Russian armored assaults.
However, the situation on the Ukrainian battlefields has significantly changed since the arrival of the Abrams tanks, with Russian surveillance and suicide drones posing a major threat to the American tanks.
These drones have made it extremely difficult for Ukraine to protect the Abrams tanks, as they allow Russian forces to easily detect and target the American tanks.
Due to the pervasive threat of Russian reconnaissance and suicide drones, “there is no open and wide area where the Abrams tanks can move undetected,” according to a military official.
Currently, the Abrams tanks have been “withdrawn” from the battlefields, and the United States will collaborate with Ukraine to modify tactics, stated Admiral Christopher Grady, Deputy Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, confirming the “fate” of the Abrams tanks in Ukraine.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, more than 30 weapon systems supplied by 12 Western countries, including Ukraine, that have been successfully captured will be displayed by Russia at Victory Park, demonstrating its success in countering “attacks” from Western countries.
The weapons displayed in the park in Moscow city include those from the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Finland, Australia, Austria, and Ukraine itself.
Among the weapon systems exhibited are the Leopard 2A6 and Marder armored vehicles from Germany, the T-80 tank from Ukraine, the Bradley armored vehicle from the United States, the CV90 from Sweden, and the AMX-10RC from France.
In addition to “heavy” weapons, the exhibition of Western weapons seized by Russian forces also involves light weapons such as the “Javelin” anti-tank guided missile systems, documents, maps, and various other “assets.”
This is the second such exhibition after last year’s, where Russia also displayed weapons it had successfully captured, including Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles.
According to Western media, this exhibition of Western weapon systems captured by Russia is a provocation by Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West, just days after the United States and United Kingdom announced they would continue to send various types of weapons worth tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine.
Last week, members of the U.S. Congress and Senate agreed to approve military aid to Ukraine totaling more than US$60 billion, marking one of the largest military aids from Washington to Kiev. – DSA