Lithuania is conducting the largest military exercise in 10 years with the participation of 20,000 soldiers

Lithuanian Deputy Chief of Staff Jelvinas Gaubis announced that his country has begun the largest military exercise in the past ten years, called “Perkunas Thunder,” with the participation of 20,000 soldiers.

Gaubis told reporters about the maneuvers that will continue until next May 10: “The “Perkunas Thunder” exercises are the largest in ten years, in which about 10,000 Lithuanian soldiers and approximately the same number of allied units participate.”

More than 10,000 people will be called from the active reserve forces, that is, everyone who has completed military service in less than ten years. These maneuvers are mobilization exercises and are part of a comprehensive plan, and among these, 2.5 thousand people will participate in the maneuvers.

Gaubes stressed that "the aim of the maneuvers is to train for the transition from conditions of peace to conditions of war operations."

Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the current stage is considered the appropriate time to discuss the issue of sending Western forces to Ukraine .

In response to a question about the urgent measures that the European Union can take to support Ukraine, Landsbergis said that in addition to providing missiles and weapons, they can send Western forces to carry out various tasks on the front line.