Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Ukrainian air defence specialists are expected to arrive shortly to help assess Lithuania’s air defence strategy.
"Ukrainian air defence specialists are coming to help assess our established plan, providing their insights, perspective and experience," Kaunas told reporters on Monday.
According to Kaunas, the experts are scheduled to arrive within the next week or two.
Kyiv calls for closer NATO cooperation
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has urged closer coordination between Kyiv and NATO allies as combat drones increasingly breach airspace over the alliance’s eastern flank, warning that Russia is also conducting disinformation campaigns around the incidents.
Speaking in Vilnius on Monday, Svyrydenko said recent drone activity and accompanying narratives underscored the need for closer operational cooperation.
“It is difficult to comment on Kaliningrad; I believe we are seeing the results of Russian propaganda on Lithuanian territory,” she told reporters. “Regarding the drones, it is crucial to communicate with the Ukrainian side.”
Svyrydenko said Ukraine and Lithuania had discussed sending Ukrainian experts to help develop a more coordinated air defence response, including improved drone interception systems and a unified radar picture across the region.
The comments come after several recent incidents in which suspected drones entered NATO airspace in the Baltic region, triggering temporary air alerts. Most recently last week, a Russian drone struck a residential building in Romania.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Ukrainian air defence specialists were expected to arrive in the coming weeks to assess Lithuania’s current capabilities and provide operational advice.
“Ukrainian air defence specialists are coming to help assess our established plan, providing their insights, perspective and experience,” he said.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Lithuania was prioritising investment in air defence in response to growing regional threats.
“We had to realign our priorities last year, and today it is clear that air defence must be one of our top priorities,” she said. “We are testing various technologies and drafting strategic plans. Expert experience is of paramount importance to us.”
She added that Ukraine’s battlefield experience made its input particularly valuable, making its experts’ contribution vital in preparing for potential threats.
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