Polish prosecutors announced a potential criminal investigation Tuesday after a shocking discovery: a 2022 open-air exhibition of Russian military vehicles from Ukraine contained live explosives. The display, intended to rally support for Kyiv, now raises alarming questions about public safety under the previous government.
The exhibit featured a T-72 tank, a self-propelled howitzer, and missile fragments transported from Ukrainian battlefields months after Russia’s 2023 invasion. During recent stocktaking by Poland’s new Strategic Reserves Agency, live grenades and ammunition were found inside one vehicle—unnoticed since its arrival.
Imagine if an explosion occurred with families present,said agency spokesperson Jan Jalowczyk. This negligence borders on the unthinkable.
Critics allege the former administration bypassed security protocols to fast-track the politically charged For Our Freedom and Yoursexhibition. Key concerns include:
- Improper explosive screenings before public display
- Unauthorized use of 700 million zlotys ($176M) for transportation
- Reckless endangerment of 250,000+ attendees across Warsaw, Poznan, and Gdansk
With endangering public safety carrying eight-year prison terms, prosecutors are scrutinizing how live warzone ordnance reached Polish city centers. Sappers have secured—but not defused—remaining explosives pending forensic analysis. The probe coincides with broader audits of the previous government’s Ukraine-related expenditures.
As Poland’s current leadership stresses military exhibition safety reforms, this case underscores the hidden risks of using active war artifacts for propaganda. With Brussels plans canceled and storage protocols tightened, the incident reveals how swiftly symbolic gestures can morph into national security threats.
