Thousands of Lithuanian drones for Ukraine stalled in warehouses

Thousands of drones that Lithuania pledged to deliver to Ukraine by the end of 2024 have yet to be delivered, as they remain in army warehouses.

Rubryka reports, citing LRT.

Representatives from manufacturing companies report that the equipment was handed over months ago, but the drones have not yet reached Ukraine.

"We delivered some of the drones in October and some in November, but we currently have no information that the drones were transported to Ukraine," said Tomas Milašauskas, head of RSI Europe.

Moreover, the company has not been contacted to provide training for Ukrainians on the use and control of the drones. Other companies have also confirmed they have no updates regarding the drones' transportation to Ukraine.

Former Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas has attributed the delay in delivering drones to Ukraine to bureaucratic hurdles. He explained that several steps must be completed before the drones can reach Ukraine:

1. An official government decision,
2. Transfer of the drones from the Army's Defense Resources Agency,
3. Organization of transportation to Ukraine.

"The bureaucracy works as follows: there are warehouses, the Defense Resources Agency must formally transfer the equipment to the army, the government must approve its transfer to Ukraine, and then it must be transported. Each step requires effort and must be expedited," Kasčiūnas stated.

He acknowledged that while these steps are logical, delays in any part of the process can halt progress entirely. Drone manufacturers stress the urgency of delivering the equipment to Ukraine without further delay.

"If the soldiers don't have the drones, Ukraine will suffer greater losses than it otherwise might," said Tomas Milašauskas, head of RSI Europe.

Giedrimas Jeglinskas, chairman of the parliamentary committee on national security, underscored the need for efficiency, particularly for drones equipped with the latest technology.

"When it comes to drones, which represent new technologies manufactured to the latest standards, they need to be in the hands of their users—the Ukrainian military—as soon as possible," emphasized Jeglinskas.

The Lithuanian Defense Ministry announced that the drones will be delivered shortly, thanks to the simplification of procedures. A newly adopted government resolution eliminates the need to re-discuss the transfer of state property purchased for another country's needs.

"The resolution ensures that if state property is bought using government funds specifically for another state, the government does not need to re-evaluate the transfer. From now on, we will start transferring equipment to Ukraine under these revised procedures," the ministry stated.

In August 2024, five Lithuanian drone manufacturers successfully tested their drones in Ukraine. Nearly 5,000 drones, worth €5 million, were purchased for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with 2,300 combat drones for the Lithuanian army.

Lithuania and Ukraine have strengthened their collaboration through several agreements. Earlier, the defense ministers of both nations signed a memorandum on the joint production of UAVs and other military equipment. On November 23, they signed another strategically significant Memorandum of Understanding, which includes financing for the production of Ukrainian long-range drones. Lithuania committed to an initial tranche of €10 million.

Furthermore, Lithuania has allocated €35 million to the Czech initiative for ammunition for Ukraine. The Lithuanian defense ministry also highlighted a long-term support plan for Ukraine, which includes a 200-million-euro military assistance package for 2024–2026.