Ukraine is said to be “trolling” the Russian president – who allegedly intended to hold his own victory parade in the capital – with the procession of rusting tanks.

The Kremlin reportedly had firm plans in place for the parade and some Russian officers had even prepared formal uniforms to be worn. However, Russian troops had to abandon their assault on Kyiv and refocus their efforts in east of Ukraine in March.

On Saturday, locals flocked to the centre of the capital to watch the procession of vehicles abandoned during the Russian retreat. It comes ahead of Ukraine’s independence day on Aug 24.

Locals were seen examining and photographing the tanks, as children climbed on them.

The parade follows other morale-boosting displays of Russia’s destroyed and abandoned military equipment.

In May, Kyiv’s residents gathered in Saint Michael’s Square to catch a glimpse of tanks as a sense of normality returned to the capital.

Other displays have seen tanks paraded through towns and cities across Ukraine, as well as abroad.

In July, two tanks were showcased in Warsaw’s historic Castle Square. The T-72 tank and 2S-19 self-propelled howitzer still had grass and mud trapped in their tracks.

Those vehicles had been captured by Ukrainian forces near Kyiv and the northern city of Kharkiv before being put on display in the Polish capital.

The event was a joint initiative between the Ukrainian and Polish governments entitled “For Your Freedom and Ours ”. 

There are plans for the tanks to travel to Lisbon and Madrid at later dates.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk