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Lithuania to deliver 4,500 drones to Ukraine this week

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Lithuania to deliver 4,500 drones to Ukraine this week
A Lithuanian service member operating a drone. Photo published on Jan. 12, 2025. (Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene/X)

Lithuania is providing Ukraine with 4,500 drones worth 5 million euros ($5.1 million) in the coming days, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene announced on Jan. 12.

Drones have proven crucial for both sides of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Kyiv employs unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of various types for reconnaissance and attack roles at the front lines and for long-range strikes in the Russian rear.

Sakaliene's statement came shortly after the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported that thousands of drones, which were to be delivered to Ukraine several months ago, are still in Lithuanian warehouses as their delivery is delayed by bureaucratic obstacles.

The previous Lithuanian government pledged in August that 5,000 Lithuanian-made drones would be delivered to Ukraine by fall. Separately, Vilnius also pledged to help fund the production of Ukrainian long-range drones, focusing on Ukraine's new Palianytsia missile-like drones.

"In addition, during the last government meeting, we approved a new faster procedure for transferring state assets," Sakaliene said, explaining that the changes "will significantly reduce the time required for procedures, ensuring that aid reaches Ukraine faster."

Lithuania has been one of the staunchest supporters of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, pledging to provide 0.25% of its GDP in military aid to Ukraine on a yearly basis. The Baltic country has supplied 840 million euros ($860 million) in security assistance to Ukraine as of October 2024, making it one of the leading donors in terms of GDP shares, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said.

Ukraine secures over $156 million for defense industry from European allies, defense minister says
The funds will support the production of long-range drones, missiles, and artillery, which are critical to Ukraine’s defense strategy.
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Martin Fornusek

Senior News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press. He was also volunteering as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukraïner. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

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