Zelenskyy jokes that Russian troops are supplying arms to Ukraine because so much of their equipment has been captured or abandoned

Sophia Ankel
Updated ·2 min read
13

  • Hundreds of pieces of Russian military equipment have been abandoned or captured in Ukraine.

  • Ukraine's president joked that Russia was "one of the suppliers of equipment to our army."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joked that Russian troops were supplying arms to Ukraine because so much of their equipment has been captured or abandoned.

"As before, the enemy is confused. They did not expect such resistance," Zelenskyy said about Russian troops in a video address early Tuesday morning. "Their soldiers know this. Their officers are aware of this. They flee the battlefield. They abandon equipment."

"We take trophies and use them to protect Ukraine," he added, using a term Ukrainian officials have recently used to describe Russian military equipment.

"Today, Russian troops are, in fact, one of the suppliers of equipment to our army. They could not imagine such a thing in a nightmare," Zelenskyy said.

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, images and videos of Russian military vehicles apparently abandoned or captured have emerged online.

Insider was unable to independently verify these photos and videos. However, they come amid ongoing reports that Russia continues to struggle with its military operation.

Ukraine's armed forces said on Tuesday that Russian forces had lost 404 tanks and 1,279 armored personnel carriers since the start of the conflict. Neither Russia nor other countries have confirmed those figures.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a statement last week that Ukrainian factories were focused on repairing damaged Russian equipment captured in the fighting.

"Manufacturers and factories continue to work, fulfilling military orders, repairing equipment, and turning war trophies into weapons. To fight, the country has to work, everyone in their place," Reznikov said in the statement.

"Then, finally, the enemy will be killed by their weapons," he said.

Ukrainian authorities told citizens last week that captured Russian tanks did not need to be declared for tax purposes.

Insider's live blog of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is covering developments as they happen.

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