MARCH 2021. NO 3 (34) IN SHORT THE LEGENDARY UNIT: THE TRAINING REGIMENT NATO'S PRESENCE WORKING TOGETHER THE LONG ARM OF THE Successful defence ARTILLERY cooperation ON MARCH 19 MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE ARVYDAS ANUŠAUSKAS WITH MINISTER OF DEFENCE OF UKRAINE ANDRII TARAN IN KYIV TO DISCUSS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN UKRAINE SPECIAL AND THE BALTIC SEA REGION, AND THE LITHUANIAN-UKRAINIAN BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION. VYTAUTAS ANDRIUS GRAIČIŪNAS — he actions Russia takes against Armed Forces of Ukraine Colonel General LITHUANIAN AMERICAN both, Lithuania and Ukraine, Ruslan Khomchak. makes the security situa- "Lithuania will continue its political WWI AVIATION HERO tion in the region worse. Active spread of support and practical assistance to Ukraine disinformation, cyber-attacks, aggressive in the area of defence. We are contributing manoeuvres near our borders, also taking to the military education reform, develop- advantage of the situation in the neighbour ment of the Special Operations Forces. In- Belarus, urges us to prepare for various po- troduction of NATO standards into mili- tential scenarios, therefore we have to be tary personnel training and transformation ready to react and respond, also through of the command and control system. We actions concerted with Ukraine," Minister also intend to expand the cooperation and A. Anušauskas said. On the first day of levels of available intelligence exchange," the visit Minister of National Defence re- Minister said. ceived a briefing on the security situation in During the visit Minister of National Ukraine from Commander-in-Chief of the See page 2 Content Successful defence NEWS SUCCESSFUL DEFENCE cooperation COOPERATION................................................1,2 CONCLUSIONS ON THE EU’S CYBERSECURITY STRATEGY........................3 LITHUANIAN PEOPLE ARE ESPECIALLY FAVOURABLE TO NATO PRESENCE..............................................4,5 UKRAINE SHOULD LOOK TO US FOR AIR DEFENSES.........................................6,7 IN SHORT THE LEGENDARY UNIT: THE TRAINING REGIMENT............................8 From page 1 Defence A. Anušauskas also met with Lithuanian military person- NATO'S PRESENCE nel deployed to Ukraine, visited the 169th Training Centre Desna of WORKING TOGETHER.................................12 the Ground Forces to where Lithuanians have been deploying since 2015 to help train the forces of Ukraine. Lithuania conducts the Na- tional Military Training Operation in Ukraine since the Seimas ap- proved its mandate in 2017. THE LONG ARM OF THE Minister also attended the Lithuanian-Ukraine President Coun- ARTILLERY............................................................ cil conference, meeting with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of 14 Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov, visited injured soldiers at a military hospital, and met with war veterans in the delegation of President of the Republic of Lithuania. SPECIAL Lithuania supports Ukraine’s aspiration to become a member of VYTAUTAS ANDRIUS GRAIČIŪNAS — NATO and actively develops bilateral cooperation in defence area. Lithuania supports Ukraine’s reforms in military career education LITHUANIAN AMERICAN WWI alone and together with NATO allies, assists Ukraine with adop- AVIATION HERO................................................20 tion of NATO standards and procedures into the Armed Forces that seeks to increase interaction with armed forces of NATO al- lies. Defence cooperation between Lithuania and Ukraine intensi- fied after the Russian military aggression in 2014. Lithuania was rendering material and technical assistance to the Armed Forces of Military Press Office of Lithuanian Armed Forces Ukraine, offered medical rehabilitation to injured Ukrainian troops Totorių str. 25, LT-01121, Vilnius; in Lithuania. Relations with Ukraine remains an important priority Phone (370 5) 210 3897, GSM (370 6) 86 94458; fax (370 5) 273 5550; Email [email protected] in Lithuania’s foreign and security policy. By developing the coope- ration with the Eastern Partners Lithuania strengthens security in Publisher — Lithuanian Armed Forces. The opinion of editorial office does not necessarily coin- cide with the opinion of the authors. Pictures, manuscripts are not returned and reviewed. Cir- the region. culation is 300 copies. Printed by the Cartography Center of Lithuanian Military, Muitinės str.4, Minister of National Defence is on a visit in Ukraine on March Domeikava, LT-54359 Kaunas dist. Order GL-142. 18 through 20 in the delegation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania G. Nausėda. MoD information Photo credits: Maj Lina Jieznienė 2 Lithuanian Military Digest News Conclusions on the EU’s cybersecurity strategy n the 23rd of March the Council adopted conclusions on the EU’s cybersecurity strategy for the digi- Otal decade. This strategy was presented by the Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs in December 2020. It outlines the framework for EU action to protect EU citizens and businesses from cyber threats, pro- mote secure information systems and protect a global, open, free and secure cyberspace. The conclusions note that cybersecurity is essential for building a resilient, green and digi- tal Europe. They set as a key objective achie- ving strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy. This includes reinforcing the ability to make autonomous choices in the area of cybersecurity, with the aim to strengthen the EU’s digital leadership and strategic capacities. In its conclusions, the Council highlights a ternet while increasing the competitiveness of ■ the importance of strengthening co- number of areas for action in the coming years, the EU industry operation with international organizations including: ■ the need to support the development of and partner countries in order to advance the ■ the plans to create a network of security strong encryption as a means of protecting shared understanding of the cyber threat land- operation centers across the EU to monitor fundamental rights and digital security, while scape and anticipate signals of attacks on networks at the same time ensuring the ability of law en- ■ the proposal to develop an EU external ■ the definition of a joint cyber unit which forcement and judicial authorities to exercise cyber capacity building agenda to increase cy- would provide clear focus to the EU’s cyberse- their powers both online and offline ber resilience and capacities worldwide curity crisis management framework ■ increasing the effectiveness and the effi- In order to ensure the development, imple- ■ its strong commitment to applying and ciency of the cyber diplomacy toolbox giving mentation and monitoring of the proposals swiftly completing the implementation of the special attention to preventing and countering presented in the cybersecurity strategy, the EU 5G toolbox measures and to continuing ef- cyberattacks with systemic effects that might Council encourages the Commission and the forts made to guarantee the security of 5G net- affect supply chains, critical infrastructure and High Representative to establish a detailed works and the development of future network essential services, democratic institutions and implementation plan. The Council will also generations processes and undermine economic security monitor the progress in the implementation of ■ the need for a joint effort to accelerate ■ the proposal on the possible establish- the conclusions through an action plan which the uptake of key internet security standards, ment of a cyber intelligence working group to will be regularly reviewed and updated. as they are instrumental to increase the overall strengthen EU INTCEN’s dedicated capacity www.consilium.europa.eu level of security and openness of the global in- in this domain Photo credits: www.flickr.com March 2021. No 3. 3 News Lithuanian people are especially favourable to NATO presence he population of Lithuania have tions are also met with a growing people’s agree that Lithuanian authorities ensure cy- confidence in the Lithuanian Armed approval. Lithuania has been consistently ber security properly," A. Anušauskas says. Forces and are favourable to it, they investing in modernisation of the Lithuanian Thave a very positive view on the presence of Armed Forces, strengthening of Alliance CONFIDENCE IN THE NATIONAL NATO allies in the country and welcome the bonds, and has managed to earn a steadfast MILITARY REMAINS HIGH AND increase of the national defence budget, shows support of NATO allies. Public support to GROWS FURTHER a public opinion poll carried out by request of the Armed Forces demonstrate a public un- According to the poll data, the Lithua- the Ministry of National Defence in December derstanding of security threats and apprecia- nian people have a particularly high and con- 2020 by Spinter Research, market and public tion of the Alliance’s initiatives to enhance tinuously growing confidence in the Lithua- opinion research company. regional security,” Minister of National De- nian Armed Forces — 73 percent, 3 percent "It is very important that the majority of fence Arvydas Anušauskas summed up the points more than in 2019, of the population the Lithuanian population have confidence poll results. say they have confidence in the Lithuanian in the Lithuanian Armed Forces and also a Minister also points out the increasing military. 72 percent of the respondents have positive view on Lithuania’s membership in ability of the public to recognise disinfor- a favourable view on a military profession. NATO, as well as the