On June 12 the Government approved the decision to transfer 14 units of M113 armored personnel carriers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The shipment is estimated to reach Ukraine by the end of this week.
The vehicles are transferred on a non-reimbursable basis as a contribution to the Ukraine Demining Coalition Lithuania co-leads with Iceland to strengthen the demining capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The Coalition is intended to consolidate and coordinate the support delivered or planned for Ukraine by the donors, both military and humanitarian demining.
The M113 transfer was initiated by the Ministry of National Defence and the Lithuanian Armed Forces in response to the request from the Government of Ukraine to the Allies and in general support to Ukraine in countering the Russian aggression.
Tomorrow, June 13, Minister of National Defence L. Kasčiūnas will attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the NATO-Ukraine Council meetings in Brussels where Ukraine’s need for military support will be addressed, most recent assistance plans of the Allies will be presented, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington in July will be discussed.
Photo credit: MoD/ SSgt. A. Čemerka