Lithuania hands Ukraine 14 M113 APCs

The government of Lithuania has approved the transfer of 14 M113 armored personnel carriers to the Ukrainian Army.

The batch should arrive in Ukraine this week, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

"The vehicles are transferred on a non-reimbursable basis as a contribution to the Ukraine Demining Coalition Lithuania co-leads with Iceland to strengthen the demining capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," the report reads.

The  M113 transfer was initiated by the Ministry of National Defense and the Lithuanian Armed Forces in response to the request from the Government of Ukraine to the Allies and in general support to Ukraine in countering the Russian aggression. 

It is noted that on June 13, Minister of National Defence L. Kasčiūnas will attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and the NATO-Ukraine Council meetings in Brussels where Ukraine’s need for military support will be addressed, most recent assistance plans of the Allies will be presented, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Washington in July will be discussed. 

As reported earlier, in late May, the Lithuanian government approved the allocation of EUR 13.5 million for the purchase of air surveillance radars within the framework of the Germany-led Air Defense Coalition for Ukraine.

Photo: Ministry of Defense of Lithuania