Tourists walking across the Polish capital’s old town can admire a destroyed Russian T-72 and a self-propelled howitzer displayed in the centre of Warsaw.

According to the head of the Prime Minister’s Office Michał Dworczyk, the unusual exhibition at the capital’s Royal Castle Square “proves that the Russians can be defeated.” 

Last weekend, the display titled “For Our Freedom and Yours” has been inaugurated by Mr Dworczyk himself as well as Hanna Malar, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister, and Wojciech Skurkiewicz, Poland’s Deputy Defence Minister.

“Many circles, primarily in Europe but also in Poland, claimed that the Russian Army was invincible, that Russia was so dangerous that it was necessary to reach an agreement with it at all costs, no matter what the concessions,” Mr Dworczyk said during his speech.

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He added that the Russian equipment destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers and displayed in the centre of Warsaw “is proof that determination, courage and professionalism can defeat the Russian Army”.

“Russian barbarians ruthlessly murder and kill not only Ukraine’s defenders but also civilians. We have seen it in Bucha, Mariupol, Sievierodonetsk and dozens of other cities. They also destroy flats and infrastructure and destroy Ukrainian villages and cities” – he went on.   

“Ukrainian soldiers are defending not only their homeland but also the security of Poland and the whole of Europe […] If it were not for the heroic resistance, determination and courage of Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers, ordinary civilians who took up arms overnight, it is very likely that Russian tanks would be at the Polish border today,” he concluded. 

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malar emphasised that the exhibition was being shown first in Poland because “Poland is Ukraine’s closest partner and friend”. 

Images: Twitter @michaldworczyk

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen