The first anniversary of Russia’s large-scale military invasion of Ukraine is observed on February 24. In Lithuania’s effort to back Ukraine’s struggle for freedom in a unified and ceaseless manner the Ministry of National Defence is consistently supporting the strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: in general, the military assistance Lithuania has provided to Ukraine to fight back against the Russian brutality encompasses millions of ammunition rounds, thousands of weapons and hundreds of pieces of military equipment, while the lessons learnt in Ukraine strengthen Lithuania’s own defence.
The number of transferred bullets, grenades, mines, and other munitions alone has nearly reached 9 million so far, while the aid with military equipment includes 18 units of 105 mm howitzers, 62 units of M113 armored carriers, 2 helicopters and several hundreds of other types of equipment, such as thermal imaging devices, UAVs of drone jammers. Moreover, the latest package of assistance from Lithuania has provided Ukraine with 36 items of L-70 anti-aircraft guns in addition to the weapons already sent over the year: approx. 23 thousands of automatic rifles and machine-guns, roughly 4 thousand pistols, approx. 1.3 thousand grenade launchers, 30 thousands of 120 mm mortars (including 12 self-propelled units).
Minister of National Defence underscores that Lithuania has been supporting Ukraine since the annexation of Crime in 2014: Until 2020, the country was receiving Soviet-type ammunition, gear, military-technical aid, assistance via NATO trust funds and via medical care for injured Ukrainian military. Lithuania was also the first one to hand over air defence systems to Ukraine last year before the large-scale war was started.
“We gave Ukraine our Stinger air defence systems with missiles, launchers and radars still at the time when other countries were telling it wasn’t possible to them. We are rendering a comprehensive and continued assistance and we will not back down until Ukraine wins. For a year now our consistent support has helped maintain Ukraine’s faith that the impossible is nothing. And in the meanwhile, the will and efforts of the Ukrainian people to get their land defended has been an inspiration of bravery to us and the world for a year now,” says A. Anušauskas.
Ministers underscores that the capabilities handed over to Ukraine are replenished: Lithuania is already receiving new equipment and weaponry equivalent to the given to Ukraine and new procurement contracts are signed. The changed security situation has accelerated Lithuania’s efforts of modernizing the Armed Forces and increasing its capability, as well as infrastructure development, and has strengthened Allied support to Lithuania too. Over 180 lessons learned from the war in Ukraine have been identified and are used to increase resilience to cyber-threats in Lithuania, the principle of total defence is implemented and the effectiveness of planning and managing the National Defence System is increased.
“The growth in defence spending over this year has enabled the Ministry of National Defence to finalize 20 vital military projects and speed up the implementation of new prioritized projects: improvement of service conditions for Lithuanian and Allied troops, accelerated acquisition of weaponry and equipment, active development of new military infrastructure. Our Armed Forces will certainly grow stronger further too. Lithuania’s territorial defence capabilities are being boosted , training and provision of the reserve of the Lithuanian Armed Forces enhanced, and preparation of the civilian society for a potential armed or peaceful civic resistance is improved, says A. Anušauskas.
The investments in security are steadily increasing as Lithuania is not losing pace in the support to Ukraine’s freedom. The material military support Lithuania has extended so far will soon reach EUR 409.2 million, while the total of support of all kinds will soon be worth a billion.
A significant part of the Lithuania support package is made up by the training assistance to Ukraine. Last year, 500 Ukrainian troops received the training and another 1600 are planned to follow this year. The activity takes place in 4 different formats: national, under the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) flag, Operation INTERFLEX training mission in the United Kingdom and demining training with the Nordic countries.
Lithuania is ready to further host the injured Ukrainian military for medical treatment, the current commitment is up to 400 as in-patients and 1200 for medical rehabilitation. At the moment, 136 troops are undergoing treatment and 151 – rehabilitation in Lithuania.
Lithuania will invest at least EUR 40 million in acquisitions in order to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine still this year. The equipment will include drone jammers, optical parts, thermal imaging, and drones. EUR 2 million will be transferred to the international trust fund for heavy armament procurement under UK supervision: new artillery systems with ammunition, armored vehicles and tanks will be bought to Ukraine.
MoD file photo
