€400m of military support – what has Lithuania sent to Ukraine?

Over the year, Lithuania sent military aid to Ukraine worth over 400 million euros. While this support will not determine the course of the war, it is significant on the battlefield, experts say.

Fifteen days before the war, Lithuania donated 500 armoured vests to Ukraine. A few days later, a Stinger air defence system with 24 missiles was handed over to Kyiv.

“Just before the invasion, I met with the Lithuanians, who gave us Stinger missiles. They had the right to tell me that we were preparing for an attack because they helped us! But the others?” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the French media this month.

“We appreciate it very much. It will go down in history, and we know who is our true friend,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said.

But this was not a simple decision for Vilnius.

“We took the risk of not having these particular systems for some years,” said Lithuanian Chief of Defence Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys.

Lithuanian troops train Ukrainian forces to use Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems | Lithuanian Armed Forces

After the outbreak of the war, 50 of Lithuania’s M113 armoured personnel carriers were also sent to Ukraine.

“This is a significant number. Initially, it was a third of the total number of armoured personnel carriers sent to Ukraine,” recalled Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas.

“They can protect or transport infantry and are very important on every frontline,” said military researcher Giedrius Petkevičius.

Moreover, Lithuania handed over some howitzers and a third of its 120-millimetre mortars to Kyiv.

“We have practically given the battalion’s manoeuvre capability to Ukraine. We will rebuild it at the end of this year,” Rupšys said.

Valdemaras Rupšys | J. Stacevičiaus / LRT nuotr.

One of the latest shipments of military aid contained L-70 anti-aircraft guns and two Mi-8 helicopters. The latest shipment alone is worth over 100 million euros. Total Lithuania’s military aid to Ukraine exceeds 400 million euros.

“In terms of the outcome of the war, it doesn’t have decisive significance. But in terms of the military nature of the aid and what it can do on the battlefield, I think it is not that small,” said military expert Petkevičius.

In addition to direct military support, Lithuania also contributes to joint arms procurement and training of Ukrainian troops.

“This training is a continuous process because there is a shortage of trained personnel, in Ukraine,” said Chief of Defence Rupšys.