Lithuania donates MANPADS to Ukraine to strengthen air defense capabilities

Lithuania has transferred man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Ukraine as part of military assistance.

The press service of the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania reported on this.

The air defense systems were delivered at the end of last week.

The weapons will enhance the capabilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces to repel constant Russian missile and drone attacks on civilian and military targets.

For security reasons, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense did not disclose which model of man-portable air defense system Ukraine received.

They only noted that this year, Lithuania plans to support Ukraine with air defense systems, ammunition, drones, and anti-drone equipment.

The country also finances the Ukrainian defense industry from its budget by purchasing weapons produced by Ukrainian enterprises for the Defense Forces.

In addition, Lithuania will contribute to the Coalition for Mine Action, which it co-leads with Iceland, as well as other international coalitions in support of Ukraine, of which it is a member.

Military support will be provided through international funds, collective initiatives, training of the Ukrainian military, and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers will continue.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Lithuania has provided military support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces worth over EUR 767 million.

In January, Ukraine received another package of defense assistance from Lithuania, which included Lithuanian-made drones, thermal imagers, and wheeled loaders.

Before signing contracts for the procurement in Ukraine, Lithuanian combat drones were tested in conditions as close to combat as possible with the participation of the Ministry of Defense.