Ylva Johansson

Russian military equipment captured by the Ukrainian armed forces has gone on display in the Czech capital, Prague.

The display of war trophies, which includes a damaged T-90 tank, Buk air defence system and Msta howitzer, was unveiled on Letna Plain, a large Open Space a short distance from Prague Castle .

" This Exhibition proves how vital support from partner countries is to us, " Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrsky told The Bbc via email after launching the exhibit.

" Russian propaganda likes to scare people that their tanks could reach Prague, Berlin or Paris. Ukrainians demonstrate - Only in the form of scrap, " He Said .

The Exhibition - organised by his Ministry - also features defused rockets and shells that have been raining down on Ukrainian cities since Russia's war against the country began in February.

" With this Exhibition we hope to show Once Again The Horrors of war that Russia's aggression has brought to Ukraine, " Ukrainian embassy spokeswoman Tetiana Okopna told Czech Television.

" But we also want to show how Czech weapons are being used, " she went on, adding that a similar Exhibition was being launched in Warsaw, with others planned for Germany and the Netherlands.

Standing alongside Mr Monastyrsky was his Czech counterpart Vit Rakusan , as well as The Mayor of Prague Zdenek Hrib and European Commissioner Ylva Johansson .

" Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee Russia's aggression, " Ms Johansson told The Crowd of onlookers assembled for The Exhibition .

" I bow before the incredible solidarity Czechs have shown Ukrainian refugees. What you have done not Only here in Prague but across the country is an example to Europe, " she added.

Ukraine's outgoing ambassador Yevhen Perebyinis has played a pivotal role in drumming up support for his country amongst Czech politicians and The Public .

Early in The Conflict the Ukrainian embassy joined forces with the Czech defence Ministry to launch a crowd-funding campaign to buy Czech weapons for the Ukrainian army. It has raised well over €50m (£42m).

The Czech government, meanwhile, has been one of Ukraine's earliest - and most muscular - supporters.

The Czech Republic was The First country to send tanks to Ukraine: T-72 main Battle Tanks from the Czech Army's active reserves. It has since sent more heavy weapons, including Mi-24 helicopters.

However, the Transfers - a combination of donations and arms purchases - are shrouded in strategic ambiguity. Even after the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin publicly thanked Prague for sending its Mi-24s to Kyiv, the Czech defence Ministry maintained what amounted to a diplomatic silence.

Photographs of The Helicopters bearing Ukrainian insignia have since appeared on open-source intelligence sites on Twitter, apparently after being deployed to The Battlefield .

But while support for Ukraine among Czechs remains high, some worry about the knock-on effect of rising energy and food prices caused in part by The Conflict . There are fears that people both here in the Czech Republic and across Europe will gradually lose interest in The War .

Mr Monastyrsky is not among them.

" We Are not afraid that Europe will lose interest in us, " The Minister told The Bbc .

" We fear that even more people will die from murders by Russian soldiers, missile strikes, explosion of mines, collapsed houses, or lack of food.

" If The World aspires to sustainable development and peace, it must eliminate The Cause of the problems - Russian aggression. It must be political exile, economic sanctions, and weapons for the Ukrainian military. "

Source of news: bbc.com