Thousands of drones pledged to Ukraine remain stuck in Lithuanian warehouses, despite being scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024, local media outlets have reported.
Local suppliers have expressed frustration over the delay, with RSI Europe stating that its drones were ready for delivery as early as November 2024.
Company CEO Tomas Milašauskas further revealed that RSI Europe has not been invited to train Ukrainian personnel on how to operate its drones.
“We delivered part of the drones in October and the rest in November, but we have not received confirmation that they have been transported to Ukraine,” he stated.
Bureaucratic Hurdles
Former Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas attributed the delay to bureaucratic obstacles.
He explained that six steps are required to transfer weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, including formal approvals and logistical arrangements.
“The process involves warehouses, the Defense Resources Agency formally transferring the equipment to the military, a government decision to approve the transfer, and then physically transporting the items to Ukraine,” Kasčiūnas said.
Despite the setbacks, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense assured the public that efforts are underway to streamline the process by eliminating redundancies.
“Going forward, we will begin transferring property to Ukraine under these revised procedures,” the ministry stated.
‘Impacting Ukraine’s Ability to Defend’
Lithuania has been a key player in strengthening Ukraine’s drone capabilities, delivering thousands of unmanned aerial systems since the war began in 2022.
In September 2024, it pledged to donate 5,000 locally manufactured first-person view drones to Kyiv to enhance its military firepower.
Lithuanian drone manufacturers have stressed the urgency of getting the weapons into Ukrainian hands, warning that further delays could undermine Ukraine’s defense efforts.
“If the drones are not in soldiers’ hands, Ukraine suffers greater losses than necessary,” Milašauskas emphasized.