Ukrainian forces receiving Howitzers training in Lithuania

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Dec 2022 13:49

With no repair capabilities available in Ukraine and no forces skilled in repairing them, some of the machinery is being transferred to NATO nations like Lithuania.

Ukrainian forces being trained by instructors (LRT)

Ukrainian military mechanics departed the town of Rukla in Lithuania on Friday after receiving training on the repair of German artillery howitzers that are being sent for the war in Ukraine.

The 16 mechanics spent the last two weeks in Lithuania, which has had howitzers since 2016. Several of them received an introductory course in Germany already after it said in June that 155mm self-propelled howitzers were already being transferred to Ukraine.

Zilvinas Cerskus, a major in the Lithuanian military, told AFP, "They acquired theoretical knowledge elsewhere, but... we taught them things from real life, what are the frequent failures which are not described in the textbooks."

German news magazine Der Spiegel news magazine released a report in November that the Howitzers were facing severe wear and tear as a result of the intensive firing of up to 300 rounds per day. But with no repair capabilities in Ukraine and no forces skilled in repairing them, some of the machinery was transferred to NATO nations, one of them being Lithuania.

"Time and resources" would be spared, according to Cerskus, since repairs will take place closer to the battlefield "instead of waiting for the repaired equipment to return from abroad for a month or two."

An anonymous Lithuanian military official relayed to AFP that howitzer malfunctions can be the result of a lack of routine maintenance.

Even though 500 Ukrainian soldiers in various courses were trained in Lithuania this year, it is anticipated to triple that number. "It is the common enemy that motivates us," Cerskus stated.

Just last month, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg stated that a summit of the heads of state and governments of the alliance will take place on 11 and 12 July 2023, in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. "I am pleased to announce that the next meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government will take place in Vilnius on 11-12 July 2023," Stoltenberg announced.

NATO heads of state will discuss further steps to strengthen the alliance's deterrence and defense, and "review significant increases in defense spending," according to Stoltenberg.

The NATO Secretary-General added that the summit will discuss steps to reinforce the deterrence and defense of the NATO coalition and "review significant increases in defense spending" and further support to Kiev.