Aid Totals 115 million euros
The Lithuanian Defence Ministry and the country’s armed forces will provide twenty M113 armoured personnel carriers, ten military trucks, and ten all-terrain vehicles to Ukraine. The value of this equipment is estimated at 15.5 million euros, according to the ministry. “We are handing over armoured personnel carriers, 200 of which have been given to Ukraine by the US. We are also sending trucks and all-terrain vehicles that Ukraine needs. The coordinated support of us and our allies is crucial to Ukraine’s victory,” Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said in a press release. “Lithuania provided the first arms assistance before the start of the war, and now, we are thinking about additional effective and critical support to the Ukrainians as we go forward,” he added.
Lithuania has so far provided Ukraine with Stinger air defence systems, anti-tank weapons, armoured vests and helmets, 120 mm mortars, small arms, ammunition, thermal imaging cameras, drones, anti-drones, and surveillance radars. The military assistance provided by Lithuania to Ukraine to date is valued at around 100 million euros.
Lithuania has also started training Ukrainians to use Western weaponry. The first training sessions that involved 20 anti-tank system instructors ended in late April, the ministry said.
Lithuania is in the top 15 of military donors to Ukraine, according to different estimates, says Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence. He would like to see Lithuania in the top 10, however.
“The fundamental strategic imperative is that Ukrainians are fighting for us on their soil, and every day, every week that the Russian army is in trouble and suffers huge losses pushes away the possibility of any military conflict in the Baltics,” Kasčiūnas told reporters.
Anušauskas told reporters after the meeting that the new shipment will bring the total value of Lithuania’s military assistance to Ukraine to around 115 million euros.
He confirmed that Lithuania is also contributing to helping Ukraine in the treatment and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers, but did not specify how many soldiers are receiving treatment in Lithuania.
The committee also discussed a mission to train Ukrainian demining instructors in Lithuania.
“The demining mission in Lithuania will be based on the principle of training the trainers,” Kasčiūnas said. It will take decades to clear Ukraine’s territory of mines after the Russian invasion, according to Kasčiūnas.
“Ukrainians say they may need around 100 billion euros of military assistance to be able to wage a full-scale war for a long time,” the MP said. “The American lend-lease project provides 30 billion for military support, a huge package but not half of what Ukraine might need. The EU’s support so far amounts to 2 billion euros,” he said. “Of course, it is up to the big Western countries to provide that support, but it is also up to us to lead by example.”
Lithuania has so far provided Ukraine with Stinger air defence systems, anti-tank weapons, armoured vests and helmets, 120mm mortars, small arms, ammunition, thermal imaging cameras, drones, anti-drones and surveillance radars. LRT.lt
