A Russian firm has announced a 'bounty' or reward for soldiers who would capture or destroy Western tanks supplied to Ukraine. A group of countries including the US and Germany has promised to send its armoured vehicles to Ukraine.
Reuters reported that Russian company Fores has offered 5 million roubles ($72,000) in cash to the first soldiers who destroy or capture US-made Abrams or German Leopard 2 tanks in Ukraine. Moscow has welcomed the announcement and added that Western tanks will 'burn.'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian troops would "burn" any Western tanks that were delivered to Ukraine, the publication reported. "This testifies to the unity and the desire of everybody to contribute as best they can, one way or another, directly or indirectly, to achieving the goals of the special military operation," Peskov was quoted saying by Reuters.
According to reports, the Western-made tanks, considered to be advanced than those currently used by Ukraine and Russia, are unlikely to be at Ukraine's frontlines soon.
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday that the country would receive over 100 tanks in the first set of deliveries from a coalition of 12 countries. “The tank coalition now has 12 members. I can note that in the first wave of contributions, the Ukrainian armed forces will receive between 120 and 140 western-model tanks,” The Guardian quoted Kuleba saying.
Ukraine has been demanding the West to supply them with tanks to strengthen their defence against Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said that he didn't see any rationale behind the West not supplying them with tanks.
