Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda supports the display of a destroyed Russian tank in Vilnius despite recent pro-Russian provocations next to it.
“We needed it. We needed it to see the vatniks who are now coming there, placing flowers, and organising prayers. It is very good to see who is who in Lithuania,” the President told journalists on Tuesday.
A Russian T-72B tank, destroyed by the Ukrainian army, went on display in Vilnius last week to mark one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In recent days, several groups of pro-Russian people have placed carnations, normally used to decorate the graves of Soviet soldiers, on the destroyed Russian tank in Vilnius and lit candles next to it.
Read more: Pro-Russian group places flowers on destroyed tank displayed in Vilnius, gets into fight
The police had launched administrative proceedings to find out whether Nazi, communist, totalitarian, or authoritarian symbols had been displayed by those groups.
“The tank is needed. It will remind us of Ukraine’s suffering but also of its success. It will remind us how bravely Ukraine is fighting this war,” Nausėda said.
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