On July 5 soldiers of the National Defence Volunteer Force were welcomed home during a ceremony in Panevėžys after deployments to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and with the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.
Their successful participation in multinational operations was recognised with medals and also by decorations of various levels to the most distinguished participants.
34 soldiers of the 5th Territorial Unit, NDVF Vytis Military District, had served in Mali for four months as part of the 2nd Force Protection Company formed mainly by a German parachute company, protecting the multinational force in the area of operation and competing other military assignments.
The group returning from the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine was the third one formed by NDVF military instructors. They were training Ukrainian soldiers for three months at the Yavoriv International Peacekeeping and Security Centre alongside US, Canadian, Polish, and British colleagues.
The soldiers were welcomed by Chief of the Lithuanian Land Force Staff Lt Col Tomas Masaitis, Member of Parliament Rasa Juknevičienė, Commander of the National Defence Volunteer Force Col Arturas Jasinskas, commanders of NDVF territorial units, representatives of Panevėžys city and region councils, soldiers' families.
POC - PIO for NDVF Vytis Military District KASP Jūratė Praninskienė, +370 45 463286
Photo credits: Private 1st Class Michail Lysenko
