Lithuania will shortly deliver additional assistance to Ukraine: the much needed M113 and M577 armored personnel carriers and ammunition for reserve training. Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas underscored at the July 20 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group that the promised or already provided number of M113s makes the armored vehicle a consequential asset in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Lithuania is a substantial contributor to it. Minister also pointed out the role of supporter nations in delivering training for Ukrainian military personnel.
“Ukraine has identified key requirement for courses and the Lithuanian Armed Forces is ready to meet it. We currently have requests for military police officer and demining personnel training. The Lithuanian Armed Forces will also contribute instructors to the extensive Ukrainian military training effort by the United Kingdom,” said A. Anušauskas.
The military assistance Lithuania has given to date includes the Stinger air defence systems, anti-armor weapons, body armor vests and helmets, 120 mm mortars, small arms, thermovisors, drones, anti-drone equipment, surveillance radars, M113 armored personnel carriers, trucks, SUVs, the Bayraktar TB2 with ammunition that was crowdfunded for by the Lithuanian people. The total of support Lithuania has provided to Ukraine so far amounts to approx. EUR 123 million.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces is also looking into the possibility of delegating a team of up to ten military instructors to the United Kingdom where 10 thousand Ukrainian troops will undergo basic three-week military training over the next three months. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group is hosted by the United States of America and includes not only NATO but also partner nations from around the globe. Lithuania also proposes to arrange wide-spectrum training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
