Which countries are quitting a key landmine treaty and why?

NATO members Poland, Finland and all three Baltic states have queued up over the past few weeks to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, in the face of what they say are growing military threats from Russia. The Read More …

Poland and Baltic states want to exit landmine treaty over Russia’s military threat

Poland and the Baltic states said on Tuesday that they want to withdraw from an international treaty banning anti-personnel mines, citing Russia’s growing military threat. In a joint statement, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland said they Read More …

Europe faces return of landmines as defence against Putin

Britain and its European allies must urgently regain the ability to deploy landmines if they are to be able to counter the “terrifying” threat posed by Russia, experts have warned. Finland, a new member of Nato in the wake of Read More …

Lithuania’s departure from the Convention on Cluster Munition creates dangers for its population and global norms

Lithuania will formally withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions, an unprecedented move with potentially profound consequences for the protection of civilians in Lithuania and elsewhere. This date ends the convention’s required six-month delay after Lithuania submitted its official intent Read More …

Ukraine: International partners to allocate EUR 700M for demining equipment

The long-term plan for developing Ukraine’s demining capacity for 2024-2034 includes an allocation of €700 million from partners for equipment procurement. This was discussed at the 11th Meeting of the Demining Capability Coalition in Vilnius, chaired by Lithuania and Iceland, Read More …

Ukraine: Eight International Coalitions provide military assistance to Ukraine

Eight capability coalitions, each comprising between six and 21 countries, are actively assisting in addressing specific needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, according to Ukrinform. The Ministry noted that in September Read More …

Ukraine: Demining coalition agrees on nine-year roadmap for assistance

Participants in the ninth meeting of the Demining Coalition, co-chaired by Lithuania and Iceland, discussed Ukraine’s needs for equipment and weapons, and also agreed on the Roadmap for Assistance for 2025-2034. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense. The Read More …

Ukraine: Drone coalition to allocate €1.8 billion for Ukraine’s Armed Forces this year

This year, countries in the international drone coalition will allocate €1.8 billion to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov revealed that this decision was communicated by partners from Latvia, which co-leads the drone coalition with Read More …

Ukraine receives 500 pickup trucks and mine detection vehicles from Lithuania

Ukraine received 230 pickup trucks and 240 mine detection vehicles from the Lithuanian-led demining coalition. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov on Telegram. The transfer of demining equipment took place during the visit of Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas to Kyiv. Read More …

Ukraine to receive €22 million worth of mine clearance equipment from Lithuania and Sweden

Lithuania and Sweden have agreed to purchase €22 million worth of equipment to support Ukraine’s mine clearance needs. The defence ministry said that the Demining Capability Coalition had agreed to purchase pick-up trucks and lorries for the needs of the Read More …

Lithuania to provide extra €40–50m in military aid to Ukraine this year

According to the minister, Lithuania has already provided 153 million euros in aid to Ukraine this year. Lithuania also plans to contribute 10 million euros to the production of the Palanytsia rocket drone system in Ukraine and to supply radars, Read More …

Irish soldiers prepare for ‘likely’ deployment in 2025 with EU battlegroup

Irish soldiers are preparing for the likelihood of deployment in 2025 as part of an EU battlegroup amid increased political instability around the world. The Irish Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in a German-led EU battlegroup this Read More …

Spangdahlem AB hosts 2024 IED Rodeo

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany – The 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight hosted EOD teams from seven countries for their yearly Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Rodeo here July 24 – Aug. 2. The multilateral, competition-style training exercise challenged Read More …

Lithuania’s MoD presents fortifications plan, focus on mines and counter-mobility parks

Lithuania will start building permanent border fortification at two locations in September and the first counter-mobility park will be opened at the end of August, Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas has said. “On August 22, we will invite you all to Read More …

Competition To Supply Ukraine With FPV Drones Gets Underway

A multi-national effort to provide Kyiv with additional first-person view (FPV) drones has officially begun, thanks to the launch of an industry competition. Led by the United Kingdom, the competition will dish out funds to successful bidders in hopes of Read More …

Lithuania: Molotov cocktails thrown at Russian embassy in Vilnius

The Russian embassy in Vilnius was targeted with Molotov cocktails on two consecutive nights, prompting an extensive investigation by Lithuanian authorities, according to reports on Monday. The first attack occurred late on Saturday, followed by another identical incident on Sunday Read More …

Russia: Security forces seize explosives hidden in icons in Pskov Region

Explosives hidden in icons and seized by security officers in the Pskov Region in Russia’s northwest could have blown up a five-story apartment block, Department Head of the Interior Ministry’s Regional Forensic Center Dmitry Belotserkovsky said on Tuesday. Russia’s Federal Read More …

Greece joins coalition to help Ukraine with mine clearance

Greece has joined a coalition led by Lithuania and Iceland to help Ukraine with mine clearance. This was announced by Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas following a meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Vilnius. The ministers also discussed Read More …

Czechs raise funds to buy 800,000 artillery shells for Ukraine

With Thursday’s contribution of €140 million from Norway, the Czech Republic has secured enough funds to buy 800,000 artillery shells for munitions-starved Ukraine, Czech President Petr Pavel told journalists on Thursday. Overall, 18 countries have agreed to finance the purchases Read More …