Already in the corridors of the Overwinnings Park metro station, it appears that the display of the spoils of war is attracting a lot of interest. It is May 1, Labor Day and traditionally a day off in Russia. Moreover, the weather is beautiful, a beautiful day out.
But instead of the zoo or the dacha, thousands of visitors today choose the exhibition ‘Trophies of the Russian Army’. At the entrance to the pompous Victory Park are 32 tanks, armored vehicles and infantry vehicles.
Many are Ukrainian, but a large part is supplied by NATO countries. A striking example is an infantry vehicle from South Africa. The country is not a NATO member and neutral regarding the fighting in Ukraine. The vehicles stand there like humiliated prisoners of war.
The thousands marvel at the material, which is sometimes slightly damaged, sometimes almost completely burned out. “Look, that’s a Bradley,” a tall, lanky teenager with glasses teaches his relatives about an American combat vehicle. An American Abrams tank can also count on a lot of interest.
Patriot
“I like seeing all this, because I am a patriot,” 37-year-old Arseni explains his arrival at the exhibition. “How can trophies like this not be interesting to look at?”
According to Arseni, the fact that there are many NATO vehicles does not mean that Russia is directly at war with the Western alliance. That is the story that the Kremlin and the Russian state media are trying to force on citizens.
The official has absolutely no fear of possible escalation and a direct clash with NATO. “We’ll win that,” he says with blustering conviction. “Everyone will show up, there will be mobilization and more mobilization. We have a great country with great potential. We are not afraid of anything or anyone.”
A little further on, a father and his two sons have their wife photograph them in front of a Ukrainian T-64BV tank. The forty-something man demonstratively holds his thumb down. People who visit this exhibition undoubtedly support or are indifferent to the “special military operation” in Ukraine. Anyone who is against it should avoid this place like the plague.
Putin’s inauguration
It is no coincidence that the exhibition is taking place right now. The inauguration of President Vladimir Putin will take place on May 7, who will then start his fifth term after winning the elections in March.
Many doubt the fairness of this, but Putin doesn’t care about that. For the Russian president, a victory in Ukraine is a priority in his new term of office. ‘Trophies’ should prepare minds for the decisive battle.
In addition, May 9 is the day on which Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany. In the last ten years, after the outbreak of the war in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin has done nothing but force the link between the war in eastern Ukraine and the heroic struggle of the Soviets against fascism down the citizens’ throats.
The Second World War, in which the Soviet Union lost some 20 million people, is sacred to Russians. So the authorities try to show that the war never ended. And that the Ukrainian ‘fascists’ are no different from those of eighty years ago.
That is why there is also a German Marder-II among the trophies, a small tank destroyer from 1942 that never saw the battlefield in Ukraine. “History repeats itself,” is written on the arched tent that spans the vehicle.
Pity and pride
64-year-old Tatjana has traveled especially from the Vladimir region (about 200 kilometers east of Moscow) for the opening and is sitting in the shade taking a breather. She also finds what she sees ‘interesting’. “We see on the news how our boys are fighting there (in Ukraine, ed.), how tough it is for them and what equipment is being sent to them there.”
Tatjana calls the ongoing massacre in Ukraine a ‘tragedy’. “Of course we feel sorry for our soldiers. But we are proud of them.”
Does she think Russia is at war with NATO? “Well, no, not directly, of course,” she answers. “But everyone is afraid of what will happen.”
She interrupts her story because her husband approaches. And he apparently doesn’t like it that his wife is talking to a foreign reporter. “What are you doing?” he asks sternly. “We strive for honor,” he says curtly and the couple is gone.
