Latvia and Lithuania have both announced their intention to transfer more land vehicles and equipment to Ukraine in support of its stocks as well as the demining capability group.
On 12 September 2024, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence issued a statement detailing its latest commitment of M113 armoured personnel carriers and All-Terrain Vehicles with spares to Ukraine’s armed forces.
Four days later, on 16 September, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence revealed on the social media platform X that Latvia will provide a new military aid package valued at €40m ($44.4m), comprising nine CVR(T) armoured fighting vehicles, drones and indivial equipment for soldiers and sappers.
Demining remains a serious problem
According to the Wilson Center, a US-based think tank, the Russian invasion resulted in the mining of more than 174,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory, or more than 28% of the country.
Some of these vehicles, such as the M113, can also be fitted with additional armour, such as a mine protective kit under the hull. This particular application was first delivered in 1966 with a newly devleoped variant of the American personnel carrier.
Similarly, the Scimitar CVR(T) vehicle accommodates a crew of three members in new seating that hangs from the roof. Seats are protected from mine blasts and the increased space envelope of the vehicle provides comfortable working conditions for crew.
Russia targetting aid to Ukraine
The number of some of these items and vehicles have not been disclosed, most likely as a matter of security.
Recently, Western intelligence services identified that Russian cyber units are targetting allied military assistance bound for Ukraine.
This concern will doubtless leave many donors eager to shore-up any enduring vulnerabilities in their logistical processes in delivering Ukraine’s requirements.
On 13 September, Finland announced that while it committed its 25th increment of military assistance to the war-torn country, worth €118m, which “for operational reasons, and to ensure that the delivery reaches its destination safely, more detailed information on the content of the assistance, the way it is delivered or schedule will not be provided.”
