Lithuania transfers 36 anti-aircraft guns to help Ukraine counter Iranian drones

Lithuania will hand over 36 anti-aircraft guns capable of shooting down Iranian "Shahed" drones as part of Ukraine's announced military aid package.

The Minister of Defense of Lithuania, Arvydas Anušauskas, stated this at a briefing with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov.

The ministers reported that at the meeting, they discussed further assistance Lithuania could provide to Ukraine by its needs, from weapons to military training.

Reznikov emphasized that training instructors, not operators, is a more practical approach. After returning, these people can transfer knowledge to a more significant number of soldiers directly in Ukraine.

"We are handing over 36 anti-aircraft guns that will help to fight drones successfully… We have already trained 15 instructors, and they have already returned to Ukraine," said Arvydas Anušauskas

At the briefing, he did not mention the systems' names. Still, he was probably talking about the Swedish L-70 anti-aircraft guns, which Vilnius announced in the latest aid package without mentioning the exact number.

The Ukrainian military completed a two-week training course in Lithuania, during which they were taught to use the L-70, the Armed Forces of Lithuania reported.

"The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Lithuania has trained operators of the L70 anti-aircraft gun, who can prepare the gun for combat, fire at aerial targets, perform post-combat maintenance and minor repairs," the report stated.

It should be noted that during 2023, Lithuania will help train about 1,600 Ukrainian military personnel. Such assistance will include the organization of courses for the training of low-level commanders.

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On January 12, Lithuania promised to transfer weapons to Ukraine to combat enemy drones. Vilnius plans to increase the production capacity of this type of weapon.

It was later reported that the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service sent equipment to block drones, power generators, sets of warm clothes, and non-contact thermometers to Ukraine.