Lithuania studies Ukrainian experience in organizing mobilization and recruitment
14 November, 2024 Members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Photo from open sources. The Republic of Lithuania is studying the Ukrainian experience of organizing mobilization, recruitment, and training of the military in times of war.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported on this. This was discussed during a meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and a delegation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. During the discussion, Brigadier General of Justice Serhiy Melnyk, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries and thanked Lithuania for its continued support of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Photo from open sources.
"We are grateful to the people of Lithuania for the support you have been providing to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. For our part, we are ready to share our best practices so that this black war does not cross the borders of your country and the European Union," Serhiy Melnyk pointed out. At the meeting, the Ukrainian side discussed reforms in the field of mobilization and recruitment.
In particular, the creation of 44 recruiting centers in most regions of Ukraine, where citizens can now apply for military service under contract. The parties also discussed this year's innovations aimed at strengthening defense capabilities: the possibility of recruiting directly to a specific military unit and the introduction of basic military service instead of conscript service in 2025. Arunas Balciunas, Head of the Military Conscription and Recruitment Service of the Republic of Lithuania, emphasized that it is important for Lithuania, which also borders Russia, to learn from Ukraine's experience gained over almost a thousand days of war.
Illustrative photo of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Lithuania.
Photo from open sources
"Lithuania also borders the Russian Federation, so we are interested in the experience that Ukraine has gained during almost a thousand days of resistance. When military events replace peacetime, everything changes very quickly. And it is very important for the military, who are responsible for the state's security, to be prepared for these changes," Arunas Balciunas stated.
During the meeting, the Lithuanian delegation spoke about its own initiatives in organizing registers of citizens liable for military service and notifying them for service, which also became an important topic of experience exchange between the two countries. The parties also agreed to continue cooperation to strengthen defense capabilities and ensure the national security of the two countries using best practices and innovations.
Conscription in Lithuania
Recently, it was reported that in 2024, the number of young people who voluntarily joined the military in Lithuania increased. The country also plans to ban those with Russian and Belarusian citizenship from serving in the army.
It is noted that in less than 10 months of this year, more than 2,700 young people who were not included in the conscription lists have applied for military service.
Members of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Photo from open sources.
This is 48% more than in the same period in 2023 and 85% more than in 2022. In particular, in October 2024, more than 1.3 thousand young Lithuanians started to serve voluntarily (42% more than in 2023 and 74% more than in 2022).
Over 500 young people have been recognized as fit for service and are now waiting to be drafted.