Inspired by an act of generosity by Lithuanians, a Turkish manufacturer is donating a drone that will go to the war-torn country of Ukraine, Lithuania’s defense minister said Thursday.
Last week, Lithuanians raised €5.9 million in several days to buy a drone for Ukraine. Lithuanian officials had travelled to Turkey to sign a contract with the producer to acquire it.
But the Turkish manufacturer was so impressed by the Lithuanian peoples’ efforts that it decided to donate a Bayraktar TB2 drone for free.
The Lithuanian government plans to send the drone to Ukraine later this month.
Some €1.5 million of the money raised by Lithuanians will be spent on drone munition, while the remaining €4.4 million would be earmarked for humanitarian and other assistance to Ukraine.
The people of Lithuania have honorably raised funds to buy a Bayraktar TB2 for Ukraine.
Upon learning this, Baykar will gift a Bayraktar TB2 to Lithuania free of charge and asks those funds go to Ukraine for humanitarian aid.
🇹🇷🇺🇦🇱🇹@a_anusauskas@VSemeska@Lithuanian_MoD pic.twitter.com/3PjIyZiME5
— BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) June 2, 2022
Writing on Twitter, Lithuania’s Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas described the gesture as “unbelievable” and “amazing.”
“For the money gathered we will buy the needed ammunition for the Bayraktar and the rest of the money will also go for support of Ukraine,” the minister wrote.