
Russia and Myanmar are under severe international sanctions. Russia cannot accept payments through Chinese banks using Chinese currency as Chinese banks no longer facilite foreign currency trading with Russia.
Burma sent elephants to Russia in exchange for fighter jets for its army
The Burmese junta has offered six elephants to Russia in exchange for six fighter jets. Burma, in the midst of a civil war, intends to thank Moscow for its support, as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. An ” elephant diplomacy ” that reflects the rapprochement between Moscow and Naypydaw since the 2021 putsch in Burma.
Five female elephants and one male travelled from Burma by Russian military plane to the Great Moscow State Circus in Russia , where they joined a troupe of wild animals including tigers, bears and seals.
These animals revered in Burma as symbols of power and luck have won a circus founded by the Zapashnyj brothers. These notorious supporters of President Vladimir Putin have openly supported the annexation of Crimea, as well as the invasion of Ukraine .
Personally overseen by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, the elephant donation comes in exchange for six SU-30 fighter jets, which were delivered to Myanmar this year worth $400 million, a deal financed by a Russian loan.
Under international sanctions, the Burmese junta is accused of targeting civilians – schools, hospitals, villages – in deadly aerial bombardments. Fighter jets supplied by Russia and China have become indispensable to the Burmese army, which has faced fierce resistance in recent months from rebel groups. The latter notably took control of almost all of Rakhine state in the west in December.
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