Red Team Museum - Revisited

Inspired by Poochies brilliant photo collection, I have been trolling through my unpublished pics from my visit to the Great Patriotic War Museum, in Kiev, Ukraine, earlier this year.
When you are in Kiev it isn't hard to find. Look for the statue of the 'Mother of the Fatherland'.

She is over 100M tall

 From the bus station you walk down the street and you know you're there because you can hear Shostakovich from a few dozen all weather speakers as you walk down the wide stairs flanked by Zis-3's.

Much lighter and more transportable than a Pak-40, also artillery...

On the right is a wee sideshow museum slash tank parking lot. It contained dozens of vehicles from pre WW2 to late Cold War.

T-27

Under license. Soviet. 1930? WTF Very early light tankette.

SU-100

Katy

SU-122 and Mum ready to bring the noise

Locally fabricated 'Terror Tank'

Translated signage: Homemade light tank, "The Terror"
Resembling the tanks produced by the soldiers of the 25th Chapaivsky Division and the workers of the Odessa factory "January Uprising" during the defense of Odessa.

There was obviously a lot more, including the SCUD launcher in the background. Unfortunately my phone decided to FREAK out and use the whole battery. Said phone was my sole commo link to my wife... worked out fine of course.;-)

On the way down, after the tank parking lot there a small museum dedicated to veterans of the other wars. Vietnam, Afghanistan, Mozambique, Namibia etc. really neat, and only recently done. Most vets were from Afghan of course and the bulk of the exhibit here was as well.
Plus side, lots of leather hand made vests for .303 and 7.62x54 ammo, radio sets, slouch hats, and cammies.
Down side, remembering how close we got so many times.
Comical, a US helmet with a Mercedes sign instead of a Peace sign.

T-10, logical evolution of the IS-2, the last heavy?

BMD, Soviet Desantniki can roll around in this

BMP-1, the forerunner of all MICV's

 I would like to point out that the main gun was changed because it didn't have enough elevation for Afghanistan specifically. Steep country, crap roads and few of them.

BMP-2, product improved for Afghanistan

T-55, good enough for the Naval Infantry

I grew up fearing the T-64

T-62, I could handle, (With a Dragon team attached).

Our Glorious Spring Victory! (PT-76 and Gorgeous wife)

So wow, lots of cool shit I found. There were a lot of Afghan memorials, at least one in most cities. Usually wth a BMP, sometimes with a statue. Kiev had a very nice and more famous one being near the Great Patriotic War museum and the Pechers'ka Lavra Monastery.

Afghan Memorial, Kiev

My dead camera missed this pic, so not mine. This is in the middle of the bus circle.

Thanks Chris for reminding me of this by your awesome post. Always raising the bar!

Chorniy Morskiy Flot!

The Black Sea Fleet will be remembered by me. For several good reasons in history, not least of which is my visit to it's harbour. (Potentially also another 28mm skirmish unit for FoF!)

 This is a monument to the defenders of Sevastopol. Despite sinking their ships to block the channel, extensively fortifying the hills and arming them with guns taken from those ships, as well as turning every sailor into a gunner or infantryman *and* holding out for nearly a year. Though, in the end, they couldn't hold any longer than 340 days! Ask Von Manstein...

 Excellent Social Realist logo of the Naval Infantry! Ppsh41 and Maxim belt for the win!

These are two guys I want in my unit. The cover of the book, "Proud Heroes!", has the classic Maxim belt and RGD-33 hand grenades. While this hard charger with the 'papasha' is probably wearing a cute stripey shirt under his camouflage scout suit. (From Great Patriotic War museum, Kyiv)

 The price you pay. Over 400 Iron Crosses 2nd Class (or better) make up this Iron Cross. Not collected from yard sales... (From Great Patriotic War museum, Kyiv)

This mill wheel is from the memorial for the "Holodomor", what we know as the Ukrainian Famine. (Kyiv)

 Ruth modelling the size of the Golden Gate, the anchient southern entrance to Kyiv. Built around 1037 it represents the apex of the Kyivan Rus'. My SAGA army will hang out here between campaigns;-)