Lithuania to continue training Ukrainian instructors and military personnel

The Lithuanian Army will continue training Ukrainian military personnel and advising the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on military reforms.

This was stated by the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, during his visit to Ukraine, as quoted by LRT.

During a meeting with the Commander of the Land Forces of the AFU, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, General Vaikšnoras reaffirmed Lithuania's commitment to supporting Ukraine.

According to him, Lithuania will continue:

• Training Ukrainian military personnel both in Lithuania and through international programs like Interflex and EUMAM.
• Providing treatment and rehabilitation for wounded Ukrainian soldiers in Lithuanian Army medical facilities.

Vaikšnoras also emphasized that Lithuania will assist in the supply and coordination of military support, including:

• Unmanned systems,
• Counter-drone systems,
• Artillery shells,
• Integrated air defense systems, and more.

Additionally, the Lithuanian general and his delegation met with the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They also visited a training center for unmanned systems operators and a defense point near Kyiv, which played a crucial role in protecting the capital during the initial days of Russia's large-scale aggression.

A key objective of the visit was to study Ukraine's experience in fortification and other effective defense strategies. According to the Lithuanian Army's statement, this knowledge is critical for preparing for potential future conflicts, given the shared threat posed by Russia.

The Lithuanian delegation, which included representatives of the Air Force, also gained insights from Kyiv's air defense units.

Ukraine's fortification solutions, widely used in the conflict, are recognized as some of the most effective defense measures. Lithuanian experts examined how these systems can be optimized to counter artillery attacks, kamikaze drones, and other threats.

Lithuania's assistance

On November 23, Lithuania and Ukraine signed a strategically significant Memorandum of Understanding to finance the production of Ukrainian long-range drones. Lithuania has already committed the first tranche of €10 million for this initiative.

As part of its demining assistance package, Lithuania also delivered 230 pickup trucks and 240 mine detectors to Ukraine.

Additionally, the Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation signed a protocol of intent with a Ukrainian company to collaborate on building a plant for producing new-generation explosives, RDX (hexogen).

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry highlighted that the country has allocated €35 million to the Czech initiative for ammunition for Ukraine. It also announced the development of a long-term support plan, which includes a military assistance package worth 200 million euros for 2024–2026.