On June 3 press conference Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas, Vice Minister Vilius Semeška and public figure Andrius Tapinas presented further plans on delivery of the Bayraktar TB2 presented free of charge by Türkiye to Ukraine.
Vice Minister of National Defence V. Semeška agreed on June 1–2 in Ankara and Istanbul with representatives of Türkiye that the gift drone would come with optical and other standard equipment and the Ministry of National Defence would take care to get it fully armed before transferring to Ukrainian fighters.
“The Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces thank Türkiye and accept the gift. Now it turn to do the homework: sign contracts, provide ammunition for the Bayraktar combat drone, it will be done with part of the money raised by the Lithuanian people,” says A. Anušauskas.
According to Minister, Lithuania also considers acquiring the Bayraktar combat UAV system for defence needs as well.
“We are seriously looking into the possibility of buying the Bayraktar system so that the Lithuanian Armed Forces learns to operate and could use. The Ukrainians could well help us out with the tactical side of it. Acquisition of the complete system would require sending experts to Türkiye in the coming months. Such a contract would be implemented within a year or two. There was one Bayraktar waiting on the shelf at the moment but others need to be manufactured,” said A. Anušauskas.
According to Vice Minister V. Semeška, the Baykar company committed to prepare the combat drone within weeks, then it would be picked up and brought to Lithuania by the Lithuanian Air Force.
“Our key aim is to contribute to the Ukrainian fight for freedom as much as possible. Representatives of Türkiye expressed clearly their admiration of the deed of Lithuanian people: ‘we simply don’t have any moral right to take into our bank account that which your society have done.” We were promised that our Bayraktar would be ready by the end of this month. Then it will be our duty to collect it and deliver to Ukraine,” said Vice Minister V. Semeška.
The remaining amount of the funds raised by the Lithuanian people when the Bayraktar TB2 is armed (approx. EUR 4,4 million) will be dedicated for humanitarian, defence, Logistical and reconstruction assistance to Ukraine, as wished by Türkiye. Initiator of the campaign Andrius Tapinas says concrete decisions will be made after consultations with the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence and donors.
“This campaign was important not simply because we got a Bayraktar for Ukraine and have plenty of funds left for additional assistance, during this week, the name of Lithuania was heard louder than before in years. It is a wish of Türkiye that the remaining money when the drone has the weaponry is used for humanitarian, defence, logistical and reconstruction aid to Ukraine. We will discuss it with the leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, investigate major needs of Ukraine, and then decide. It is possible that this part of assistance could have an even more significant impact on the course of war that the Bayraktar combat drone,” said A. Tapinas.
Lithuania provides and will provide all possible to support to Ukraine’s statehood and independence, including military, financial, humanitarian and any other.
The military assistance Lithuania has given to date includes the Stinger air defence systems, anti-armor weapons, tactical vests and helmets, 120 mm mortars, small arms, thermovisors, drones, anti-drones and surveillance radars.
