The Demining Capability Coalition for Ukraine, led by Lithuania and Iceland, handed over the first large package of SUVs and mine detectors to Ukraine on Monday.
The equipment was purchased with funds from the Demining Capability Coalition fund, which was launched in September, the Lithuanian Central Project Management Agency and the Defence Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.
The agency’s spokeswoman Inga Vaitkevičiūtė told BNS that the package includes 230 SUVs and 240 mine detectors, with a total value of around 8.8 million euros.
This follows the delivery of several dozen SUVs to Ukraine in late September.
Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas said the first package “symbolises our unwavering support for Ukraine”, but more efforts are needed to further boost its military capabilities.
“This first batch of equipment is just the beginning. We must continue pooling resources and expertise, investing in advanced training and technology, and strengthening Ukrainian military capabilities,” Kasčiūnas was quoted in the press release.
“We also call upon other partners, nations, and organisations to join us in this mission. Together, we can achieve more and do so more quickly,” he added.
The Central Project Management Agency said that more equipment funded by the coalition, including trucks, demining kits, and protective gear, is expected to be delivered to Ukraine shortly.
The fund currently stands at around 15 million euros, with a further 5 million euros expected to be contributed by Sweden and 3 million euros by Denmark.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov noted in the press release that more areas will be mined as the war continues.
“Therefore, we need assistance from our partners. We need to enhance our air defence system and have real long-range capacities,” he said.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported that it documented 1,158 civilian casualties – 360 killed and 798 injured – due to mines and explosive remnants of war in Ukraine between February 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion began, and last April.
Landmines also impede agriculture, causing an estimated annual loss of around 11.2 billion US dollars to Ukraine’s GDP, the Central Project Management Agency said, citing data from the Tony Blair Institute.
Lithuania started building up the Demining Coalition at an online Ramstein-format meeting of Ukraine’s donors in the summer of 2023. Coalition member countries signed a letter of intent in Brussels last February.
Led by Lithuania and Iceland, the coalition which now consists of 22 countries, aims to assist Ukraine’s Defence Ministry and military in humanitarian and combat demining by procuring equipment and providing training.
The Lithuanian Defence Ministry has said that Vilnius plans to allocate 30 million euros to the Demining Coalition in 2025, continue supporting the Czech-led ammunition procurement initiative, and invest in Ukraine’s defence industry.
Lithuania has provided over 705 million euros in military assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war.
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