A six-year-old boy declared Ukraine “will defeat Putin ” as he played on a destroyed Russian tank in Kyiv.
Schoolboy Lev Morilyi held a toy AK-47 as he and his parent joined thousands of people who descended on a column of captured tanks that has become an unlikely tourist attraction.
As many as 70 tanks, along with missile systems and howitzers which have been captured over the first six months of Russia's invasion have been used to block off one of the Ukrainian capitals main streets near Independence Square.
The graveyard of Russian military equipment was unveiled on Wednesday on Khreschatyk Street.
The Sun reported Lev’s dad Roman as saying: “He hasn’t played with his toy gun for a long time but when we said we were coming here, he went to get it.
“Like every Ukrainian, he is proud of what our army has achieved and wanted to bring his own weapon to show his support.
“It is truly inspiring to see these destroyed Russian vehicles. It shows we are winning the war and we will achieve the ultimate victory.”
Seven million Ukrainians have fled during a war that has left over 160,000 dead or injured and has had devastating impact on the economy.
However, the country's resistance has remained strong, with Vladimir Putin's forces pushed back from Kyiv and forced to focus on other regions.
Most of the fighting is now focused on the east of the country but the scars of war can be seen across the nation.
An 11pm curfew remains in place, air raid sirens are a regular interruption and checkpoints can be seen on major routes into towns and cities.
Ukraine's ongoing resistance comes as insiders claim that Vladimir Putin will “no longer attend meetings” due to his “sharply deteriorating” health.
The Russian president's health has been the subject of speculation for months, with rumours circulating that he may have used a body double to attend some events.
With the tyrant's war not going to plan, there have been suggestions that Putin is wavering between resorting to nuclear weapons or conceding defeat.
As concerns over the despot's health intensify – speculation has suggested he could be dealing with cancer or Parkinson's - insiders claim that his security officials have delivered the news to Putin that he has run out of “good” options.
With Ukraine officials claiming to have killed more than 44,000 Russian troops and at least 1,800 tanks obliterated, Putin's invasion has endured a calamitous first six months.
Kremlin hopes of a speedy victory have been dealt a series of blows, with Crimea coming under fire from kamikaze drone strikes in recent days. Russia annexed the region in 2014.
