Baladi News
The Kremlin has been criticised for sending a 'propaganda train' loaded with 'war trophies' from Syria on a tour of some 17,500 miles around Russia.
On display are weapons and armaments captured from rebels during Moscow's controversial campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The train has three platforms to display the Russian engineer troops' Syrian trophies, including over 40 defused homemade explosive devices and military hardware, some with Arabic writing down the sides.
During its epic 'victory tour' the 20-carriage train will touch the Pacific after the journey through Siberia and the Arctic as it visits more than 60 cities.
After eight days on the rails, the train is now in Crimea - the Black Sea province captured by Vladimir Putin's forces from Ukraine in 2014.
The show of strength saw armoured jeeps, tanks and mine-clearing vehicles pull into stations, with onlookers recording the weaponry on their phones.
Colonel Dmitry Serobaba said when the train departed from Moscow on February 23: 'The aim is to show a maximum amount of people in our country the success of the Russian army in the fight with "international terrorism."
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A tweet from Vitaly S said that in his Trans-Baikal region there are no funds to repair the local hospital.
Instead, 'citizens will enjoy the Defence Ministry special train with trophies from Syria.
But the train has been hit by unfriendly fire from Russians on the Internet.
Denis Trishin said: 'Sick and tired with this clown show by [defence minister Sergei] Shoigu.'
'Will the train carry all Russian soldiers wounded in Syria?' asked commenter Volodymyr Melnychyc.
Source: Daily Mail Online.
