On September 19 a deployment ceremony before the Military Training Operation in Ukraine took place at the National Defence Volunteer Force HQ for a joint team of Lithuanian Land Force no-commissioned officer and officer instructors.
The deployed soldiers will focus on supervision and advice of collective training conducted by Ukrainian military instructors.
Lithuanian troops at the Yavoriv International Peacekeeping and Security Centre are assisting Ukrainians in reforming and strengthening their armed forces and drawing them closer to NATO standards alongside other NATO allies. The instructors contribute to the training of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: arrangement of individual and collective exercises, teaching operational planning and execution procedures in accordance to NATO standards.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces supports Ukraine's reforms of military training and education, helps in applying the Western standards to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to increase interoperability with armed forces of NATO allies. Instructors of the Lithuanian Armed Forces have been part of the U.S.-led Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine since 2015.
The deploying troops were given keepsakes at the ceremony and their leader Maj Virginijus Jonuška was presented with a blessed national flag of Lithuania so that it would foster our troops' pride in our country and protect them.
"We have been living in peace and stability for the past three decades but it does not make us indifferent and we are not forgetting our brothers in Ukraine who are striving to bring back peace to their country," Chief of Staff of the National Defence Volunteer Force Lt Col Ramūnas Jurskis said farewelling the troops and wished them professionalism in their duties and a safe return home.
Photo credits: Pte 1st Class Michail Lysenko
