Russia’s largest film studio has donated 36 Soviet-era tanks to the Russian ministry of defense, the studio’s head has said.
Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mosfilm’s general director and frequent commentator on Russian propaganda television, Karen Shakhnazarov, said that the film studio had sent the military 28 T-55 tanks, 8 PT-76 tanks, six infantry fighting vehicles, and eight artillery tractors from the studio’s military-technical stockpile.
“I found out that there was such a need. I contacted the Defense Ministry and they took these vehicles,” Karen Shakhnazarov told Putin.
The equipment was used in historical and war films set during the Cold War. The T-55 main battle tank entered the Red Army’s service in 1958, and the PT-76 light amphibious tank back in 1951.
“I found out that there was such a need. I contacted the Defense Ministry and they took these vehicles,” Karen Shakhnazarov told Putin.
The equipment was used in historical and war films set during the Cold War. The T-55 main battle tank entered the Red Army’s service in 1958, and the PT-76 light amphibious tank back in 1951.
According to the studio’s website, there are over 190 pieces of armored equipment in Mosfilm’s stores.
The donation of equipment came on top of a “charitable assistance of eight million rubles [$82,000], including six million rubles [$61,000] for the needs of the ‘special military operation’,” Shakhnazarov said.
The donation of equipment came on top of a “charitable assistance of eight million rubles [$82,000], including six million rubles [$61,000] for the needs of the ‘special military operation’,” Shakhnazarov said.
Dwindling stocks
Casting doubt over whether the studio donated the equipment willingly, Valeriy Ryabich, head of the Defence Express analytical team, said that the decision made by the Russian military to commandeer the tanks shows how serious the Russian army’s equipment shortages are.
It “shows that the equipment that can be quickly put into action is running out,” Ryabich told the Ukrainian Espresso private television channel, estimating the time of deployment of Mosfilm’s equipment to the frontlines as “the coming weeks.”
“It is worth noting, that the Mosfilm equipment is running because it is used in films,” he said, adding that after minor conservation work, it can be used “in accordance with the purpose for which they were designed in the Soviet Union.”
Ryabich also pointed out that the Russian military is currently carrying out offensive actions in several directions, requiring the use of large amounts of heavy equipment, which the Ukrainians have been successfully eliminating, and that “there is increasingly less wiggle room for the Russians when it comes to stockpiles of equipment.”
It “shows that the equipment that can be quickly put into action is running out,” Ryabich told the Ukrainian Espresso private television channel, estimating the time of deployment of Mosfilm’s equipment to the frontlines as “the coming weeks.”
“It is worth noting, that the Mosfilm equipment is running because it is used in films,” he said, adding that after minor conservation work, it can be used “in accordance with the purpose for which they were designed in the Soviet Union.”
Ryabich also pointed out that the Russian military is currently carrying out offensive actions in several directions, requiring the use of large amounts of heavy equipment, which the Ukrainians have been successfully eliminating, and that “there is increasingly less wiggle room for the Russians when it comes to stockpiles of equipment.”
More In Society MORE...
