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director general Karen Shakhnazarov meeting Vladimir Putin.” />The Kremlin via Getty Images and Jack Esten/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
- In 2023, Russia’s leading film studio contributed 36 outdated tanks to support the Kremlin.
- Mosfilm’s head informed Putin about donating 28 T-55 tanks along with eight PT-76 vehicles.
- Similar aging tanks have been utilized by Russian forces for fire support during combat operations.
Film Studio Steps In Amidst Military Needs
As Russia seeks additional military equipment, its largest film production company has taken an unexpected role—providing cinematic props for warfare.
A Meeting of Minds: Mosfilm and the Kremlin
Karen Shakhnazarov, the director general of Mosfilm, met with President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to discuss various aspects of the studio’s financial performance and production capabilities.
The conversation primarily revolved around their ambitions for growth within the industry. Shakhnazarov expressed pride in stating that Mosfilm operates at a scale comparable to major Hollywood studios such as Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures.
Tanks for Defense: A Surprising Donation
Shakhnazarov then shifted focus towards military contributions amidst ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “By the way,” he remarked according to a transcript released by the Kremlin. “In this year alone, we transferred 28 T-55 tanks along with eight PT-76 vehicles and several other military trucks from our inventory to assist our Armed Forces.”
“I was aware they were in need,” he added while confirming that these vehicles were officially incorporated into Russia’s military assets.
The Kremlin
The Condition of Donated Equipment Remains Uncertain
It remains unclear whether any donated tanks have been deployed on Ukrainian battlefields or if they are even operationally viable for combat scenarios.
According to information on Mosfilm’s official website, the studio boasts a collection exceeding 190 armored units including personnel carriers and self-propelled artillery; however, these are described as being “disguised” as historical equipment from various eras.
The site further states that all machinery is classified as stage props (production equipment), maintained in good working order for simultaneous filming across multiple projects. The early Soviet-era models mentioned by Shakhnazarov—the medium tank T-55 alongside its lighter counterpart PT-76—were manufactured during the mid-twentieth century.
An Obsolete Legacy?
The T-55 is recognized as one of history’s most widely produced tank designs; it became emblematic during early Cold War tensions. Today it finds itself displayed more often in museums than on modern battlefields due to its age.
Some nations still operate these older models; however, they lag significantly behind contemporary armored technology and are largely deemed obsolete within Russian armed forces today.
This statement comes at a time when Moscow faces challenges maintaining its fleet amid substantial losses over recent years:.....
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- Data from Dutch open-source monitoring group Oryx indicates that since hostilities began,Russia has lost approximately 10,888 armored units including around 3,558 main battle tanks;
- Moscow has ramped up production efforts significantly pouring an unprecedented six percent of GDP into defense expenditures covering arms manufacturing ammunition procurement among other necessities;
- The strain on resources became increasingly evident throughout this year when intelligence reports noted deployments involving antiquated armor dating back decades such as both types mentioned earlier being retrieved from storage facilities;
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