On October 2, Lithuania’s next rotation formed by the National Defence Volunteer Force was deployed to the Kosovo Force multinational operation at a ceremony in Rokiškis.
Lithuania sent to the mission which spans the upcoming semester an infantry platoon formed by troops of the 5th Territorial Unit, Vytis Military District, National Defence Volunteer Force, supported by military personnel from other units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The Lithuanian troops will be integrated in the German Contingent and complete various assignments in support of security and stability in the region. KFOR is one of the lengthiest NATO operations. Currently, it encompasses approx. 4 600 military personnel contributed by 31 Allies and Partners.
“We are here to farewell our third rotation of Lithuanian troops before they leave for the NATO Kosovo Force KFOR to serve six months in composition of the German Contingent. Our partnership with Germany today is the strongest it has ever been: while German troops strengthen Lithuania’s defence here on the ground, our troops joint their German colleagues to advance security in the Balkans. Allied defence rests on mutual responsibility, trust and readiness to act together where necessary,” said Vice Minister of National Defence Gabriel Gorbačevski.
Vice Minister of National Defence presented to Commander of the KFOR Contingent Capt S. Afanasjevas the flag of the Republic of Lithuania. Commander of the National Defence Force transferred to the Contingent the NDVF battle flag and presented keepsakes for every servicemember.
“There will inevitably be days you will be proud of what you are doing but also days you wish times was passing quicker. On such days, think of what you had left for: not pictures and incentives, nor compliments. It is because you are the Lithuanian Armed Forces and you have a task to get done. And to get it done professionally, in a determined and dignified manner,” said NDVF Commander Col Ramūnas Jurskis in his address.
Members of the Contingent are deploying with resolve and pride in their readiness and pre-mission training.
“The emotion is good, we have trained a lot for this deployment and today is the culmination of all the effort. I have been with NDVF since 2018 and I feel mature for this challenge. I look for new experiences I could proudly share with my children family and community,” one of the deploying volunteers said about his mood on the occasion.
KFOR was launched on June 12, 1999. Since then, Lithuania has contributed approx. 600 troops to the mission. Deployment of our military personnel to service in composition of the German Contingent is one of Lithuania’s contributions to the collective NATO effort to ensure stability in the region and international security.
Deployment of National Defence Volunteer Force troops to multinational operations was mandated on March 17, 2004, the Resolution NO. 287 of the Government of Lithuania opening the way for volunteer military personnel to serve in multinational operations just like career troops. Since then, approx. 1,500 career and volunteer NDVF military personnel have been deployed to the multinational operations in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Mali.
Photo credit: Col Michail Lysenko
