Russian Propagandists Ridicule Shoigu's Statement About Destroying Leopards

The Russian defence minister's statement has amused even those who support the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has announced that the Russian army has destroyed eight German Leopard tanks. This was doubted even by those who support the invasion of Ukraine.

Shoigu did not provide any proof of what he said. However, as Meduza notes, the Russian military ministry soon released a short video in the media with footage of what it claimed was the "destruction of foreign armoured vehicles, including Leopard tanks".

Many Russian pro-war bloggers questioned whether the video by the Russian Defence Ministry showed real armoured vehicles.

The Military Informant telegram channel, having analyzed the silhouettes of the vehicles, reported that the video actually showed American John Deere 9000 and 700 series grain harvesters, as well as a John Deere 4830 spray tractor, which are quite popular in Ukraine.

The Rybar telegram channel came to a similar conclusion.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC, also commented on the video:

"Today the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has posted an impressive performance of the ATGM men. The footage clearly shows Leopard tanks moving in a strange tactical manoeuvre towards each other. These tanks are disguised as agricultural harvesters. Their muzzles are bent downwards. However, this did not prevent our ATGM men from seeing enemy equipment in them".