MOSCOW: The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, has criticized the recent sale of Bastion armored vehicles by France to Armenia, labeling the military equipment as “real military junk.”
Speaking during a weekly briefing, Zakharova expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these armored vehicles, particularly citing their performance in real combat situations in Ukraine.
“The deliveries of Bastion armored vehicles to Armenia look rather naive. In Ukraine, they have shown their low efficiency in real combat situations. If you put them on display, maybe it makes sense. From the point of view of Paris’ efforts, it means that France simply sold Yerevan real military junk that Paris could not supply in other directions,” Zakharova stated.
Russian Foreign Ministry Questions Strategic Value of Purchase
She questioned the strategic value of the purchase, emphasizing that the equipment’s hodgepodge nature, sourced from different manufacturers, does not contribute to enhancing combat capabilities. The Bastion armored vehicles were initially designed for French troops in former African colonies.
Zakharova also pointed out that France seems eager to divest itself of this equipment, stating, “Now France is looking for any opportunity to get rid of this equipment.”
Furthermore, Zakharova highlighted Armenia’s perceived reliance on Western assistance, noting that Yerevan’s hopes for such support, including the expectation of help in concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan, have been unfulfilled.
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