On Monday, a Russian official announced that a U.S.-made M1 Abrams tank, captured by the Russian military from Ukrainian forces, will soon be put on display in Moscow. The Russian Ministry of Defense later released a video claiming to show the destruction of the tank, referred to as a “trophy tank” by Kremlin-controlled media outlet RT.
This news comes after a recent report from the Associated Press revealed that the U.S. is withdrawing its Abrams tanks from Ukraine’s front lines due to vulnerability to Russian drone strikes. The AP noted that five out of the 31 American Abrams sent to Ukraine since January 2023 have already been lost in combat, despite repeated requests from Kyiv officials.
Alexander Savchuk, spokesperson for the Russian military unit “Battlegroup Center,” stated that the tank to be displayed in Moscow is the first Abrams evacuated from the battlefield in Ukraine by Russia. Savchuk mentioned that it will soon be exhibited at an event on Moscow’s Poklonnaya Gora.
RT reported that the Abrams tank will be showcased at a major trophy show in Moscow, alongside other Western-made heavy vehicles captured during the conflict. These include a German Leopard 2, a German Marder infantry fighting vehicle, a Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicle, a French AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicle, and assorted equipment from other NATO countries as well as Ukraine.
The Russian MoD released a black-and-white video purportedly showing the capture of the tank, where an anti-tank guided missile can be seen launched at a blurry target, followed by another missile causing an explosion. The assault allegedly took place near the city of Avdiivka in the Donbas region. Avdiivka has witnessed intense fighting, with recent gains reported by Russian forces.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), recent Ukrainian withdrawals on the front line were prompted by Russian gains northwest of Avdiivka. However, the ISW added that these retreats have not led to significant Russian advancements, and deeper penetration by Russian forces in the area is unlikely in the near term.
