Lithuanian soldiers were training and sharing experience with Ukrainian soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Mechanised Brigade in Yavoriv Training Area, Lvov district, since November as part of the multinational group together with troops from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Ukrainian military personnel were trained to carry out operational planning and control procedures in line with NATO standards. Squad, platoon and, company-sized units practiced operational tactics, while subsequent evaluation exercise assessed the companies' ability to coordinate actions within a battalion.
The Lithuanian shift comprised 16 soldiers: 15 officers and sergeants assigned to the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion and the commander of the shift, Major Vacys Metrikis.
A new shift formed from military instructors with King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion will be dispatched to replace it on March 1. The new rotation will train Ukraine's 2nd Battalion of the 25th Airmobile Brigade hand in hand with other NATO allies.
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The Lithuanian contribution to the U.S.-led Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine is just a part of the training assistance the Lithuanian Armed Forces render to Ukraine. Ukrainian military are invited to study at Lithuanian military education institutions, Lithuania and other Baltic States also fund Ukrainian soldiers' studies at the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL).
Last year two rotations of Lithuanian military instructors provided assistance in training the National Guard of Ukraine. Since November Lithuanian soldiers were contributing to the training of the regular units of Ukraine's armed forces. Also, paramedics of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and their colleagues from the U.S. were training paramedics of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The cooperation with Ukraine also encompasses organisation of military exercises, the joint project of the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), and other areas. Participants of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) receive treatment at civilian healthcare institutions and the Military Rehabilitation Centre of Lithuania.
