What can be seen at the exhibition of captured equipment on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow
The Ukrainian version of the Russian "Terminator" for $ 5 billion — with an intercom camera, buried by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Mariupol area. Soviet—era infantry fighting vehicles, transferred to Kiev by the Czech Republic, and captured by Russian forces in March 2022 in the Zaporozhye direction. Armored vehicles manufactured in Finland, Turkey, Australia, France, Great Britain and other countries — on May 1, an exhibition of captured equipment started on Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow. Residents and guests of the capital come here with whole families, take pictures against the background of the enemy's iron machines, which have turned into exhibits. The hits of the exhibition were the American "Abrams" and the German "Leopard", brought just a few days ago from the battlefields in the SVO zone.
Extensive geography
The long queues that lined up an hour before the opening, the human flow that flooded the exposition in a matter of minutes at the time of the start of work — this is how the exhibition on Poklonnaya Gora started. Izvestia correspondents counted 34 exhibits on the open-air site. 33 of them are wheeled and tracked vehicles, and another one is the famous 155 mm American M777 howitzer. Visitors take long photos of its impressive trunk.
There are guides standing next to the cars, patiently answering questions from everyone. All of them are active military personnel, participants in a special operation, with military awards on their uniforms. However, young people do not talk about places of service. But they tell about the trophies in every detail.
The range of equipment presented is wide —ranging - from Ukrainian modifications of Soviet T-64 and T-72 tanks and BTR-70 armored personnel carriers to armored vehicles manufactured in Finland, Turkey, Australia, France, Great Britain and other countries.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
The condition of the machines is different. Some look like new, others bear the marks of fighting — from bullets and shrapnel. There are also burnt samples that already seem to be beyond restoration. By the way, almost all armored vehicles are marked with bullet marks on the windshields.
Unique samples of their kind are also presented here — they exist in single copies. These include, for example, a fairly rusted Ukrainian tank support combat vehicle (BMPT). This is a fundamentally new class of equipment invented by Russian engineers. Our Terminator BMPT has already been effectively used on the battlefield. Representatives of Ukraine, as has often happened, decided to glue the Russian defense industry and tried to create an analogue of the Terminator.
— About $5 billion has been spent on this development. It is made on the basis of the T-64 tank. It was supposed to be equipped with 23 mm automatic guns, two 7.62 caliber machine guns. There was also an idea to put a "Baby" ATGM on the sides," the guide, a soldier of the Airborne Troops named Artyom, a recipient of the medal "For Bravery", told Izvestia. — In 2016, the Ukrainians sent the car for testing, but it somehow disappeared. It is assumed that she was abducted by militants of Azov (an extremist organization banned in Russia. — Izvestia). But her combat capability leaves much to be desired — even her cameras are from a regular intercom, so the money went nowhere. As a result, she was simply buried in the Mariupol area.
Nearby is one of the oldest and most massive infantry fighting vehicles BMP–1, once the main workhorse of Soviet motorized infantry. The presented sample was produced in the USSR and delivered to Czechoslovakia. And with the beginning of the Russian military operation, the Czech government decided to give it to Ukraine. The car is well preserved — it can be seen that it was abandoned intact by the crew. This BMP was captured in March 2022 in the Zaporozhye region.
CV-9040 BMP
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
One of the world's oldest infantry fighting vehicles is adjacent to one of the most modern vehicles in this class — the Swedish CV-9040. This is a very advanced technique: it has a low silhouette, it is poorly visible in the thermal imager, it has a low noise level. A 40-mm cannon is installed.
The CV-9040 was hit in battle — there were traces of an RPG hit on the frontal and side armor. This happened in July last year in the Zaporozhye region, when Russian troops repelled the Ukrainian "counteroffensive".
The exposition is framed by samples of the French armored fighting vehicle AMX-10RC, the American BMP M2 Bradley, the American BTR M113, the Turkish armored car Kirpi, the American armored car MAXXPRO Plus and others. The Ukrainian modifications of the T-64 and T-72 tanks are well preserved. They have no big differences from Russian developments — minor changes, a different alloy of armor. The T-72AG, which Kiev had in a single copy, was captured in March 2022 by participants of the famous Gostomel landing. The T-64 was lost by Ukrainian militants in the battles for Severodonetsk of the Luhansk People's Republic.
The highlight of the program
The American M1A1 Abrams and the German Leopard 2 were brought to the site just a few hours before the opening of the exhibition. A few days ago, they were plowing the fields of Donbass, posing a serious threat to Russian soldiers. They can't do any harm now. Especially the badly burned and deformed Abrams. It looks as if it can no longer be restored. Our fighters captured this sample in April in the battles for Berdych in the Avdiivka direction.
M1A1 Abrams tank
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
— Our engineers did a great job, they evacuated the car from under fire. To do this, it is necessary to carry out a whole special operation," Ruslan, a tour guide, a soldier of the Guards motorized rifle unit, told Izvestia. — The tank is badly damaged. He bowed to Russia with his barrel. Here he is, an American on Russian soil. Visually, it can be determined that the car was blown up by an anti–tank mine - the rollers were completely destroyed, the entire rear part of the tower was cut off.
The car was badly damaged — it burned out completely, all the ammunition ignited. This could not have happened from one mine, Ruslan draws attention.
— Most likely, other means of destruction were used on the immobilized car. Tanks of this modification were used by the American army in Iraq. This is a variant with a diesel engine. In any case, the weapon is scary, especially if the crew is experienced. But, as practice shows, this is not a superweapon or the "last hope of the Armed Forces of Ukraine." All this is being beaten up and burning," the guardsman states.
Two of his brothers lined up behind the Abrams — an armored repair and evacuation vehicle mounted on the same chassis, as well as an M1150 assault engineering vehicle, which should go ahead in the offensive, clearing the way for the troops. In general, it looks quite safe, but it suffered damage to the rear sprocket and lost the track. Spaced armor is installed on this machine — there is space between the metal sheets for a scattered cumulative jet. But Russian weapons penetrate this armor, our military says.
M1150 Assault Engineering Vehicle
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
A self-propelled artillery installation from the Second World War "Marder-2" with crosses on the sides is located next to modern German vehicles. It is one of two existing museum specimens in the world. The inscription on the tent is "History repeats itself." Nearby is a fairly modern infantry fighting vehicle "Marder-1A3". Among others, she attacked Russian positions in the Zaporozhye region last summer. But it got bogged down somewhere — abandoned by the crew, it was captured by Russian fighters almost intact.
— She has minimal shrapnel damage. But they "worked" for us. They don't roll out to the first line on them, because any anti-tank system hits this car. Perhaps she didn't have enough ice rink and our specialists put it up," suggested a junior sergeant of the army with the call sign Lenin.
The Leopard 2 stands next to the German BMP. He was captured in April near Berdych. Unlike the Abrams, this tank is slightly damaged: the tracks are intact, even the anti-accumulation grilles have been preserved.
— This is a serious device. So is the Marder. They are just very bulky and heavy. And as a combat unit in the right hands, they pose a great danger. We must take these weapons seriously," says Lenin.
Leopard 2A6 Tank
Image source: Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
"Takes pride in our guys"
The visitors, who have been clinging to the captured cars from the first minutes of the exhibition, do not hide their emotions. An eighth grader named Alexey has been interested in a special military operation since its first day. He admits that he was really looking forward to this exhibition.
— Ecstasy takes over when you see this huge technique for the first time. I've only seen the Russian one before. I drew attention to the Ukrainian modification of the T-64. It is interesting how our opponents modify Soviet tanks.
— We specially came from Shatura near Moscow to look at the captured equipment, — says the visitor Natalia. — Impressive. Such big cars — and they stand here like in 1945!
Marina arrived with her four-year-old daughter Anya. She had long wanted to go to the exhibition, but did not think that the captured equipment would be brought directly to Moscow.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov
Image source: iz.ru
— I've been wanting to look at cars up close for a long time. We are patriotic ourselves. We didn't expect the Abrams to arrive. Everyone wanted to see it. When viewing the exposition, he takes pride in our guys — such work has been done, so many trophies!
The exhibition on Poklonnaya Gora, which opened its doors to visitors on May 1, will last until the end of the month.
Roman Kretsul