Nov. 23, 2024, 5:59 p.m.
(Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)
Lithuania will help Ukraine produce long-range drones by financing their development and production. The relevant memorandum of understanding was signed in Vilnius by Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurinas Kasciunas and representatives of Ukraine.
According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the document provides for the creation of a mechanism to support the Ukrainian security and defense forces through investments in Ukraine's defense industry. This will allow attracting Lithuanian funds to projects aimed at developing a strategic partnership between the countries.
According to the minister, the first tranche of EUR 10 million has already been allocated under the agreement. The funds will be used to produce long-range weapons, including Palyanytsia drones. Lithuania is currently finalizing the necessary procedures, and the first funds are expected in the near future.
In addition to signing the memorandum, the parties discussed priorities for 2025, including training of Ukrainian brigades, provision of ammunition, air defense systems, and further development of cooperation in the defense industry.
The aggressor country increased the intensity of long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities by about 44% in the week after Donald Trump won the US election. In the week after Trump' s victory, Russia launched 641 attack drones into Ukraine, according to daily data from the Ukrainian Air Force, an average of more than 91 UAVs daily.
Ukraine's air force recorded 2,286 launches into its territory between October 1 and November 5, an average of less than 64 UAVs per day.
For the first time, current US President Joe Biden authorized the Ukrainian military to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory.
After that, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols confirmed that US President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with US ATACMS missiles.
Ірина Глухова