In fear of Russia, Lithuania is reviving compulsory military service. Half the population is against
Warsaw – Kyiv, February 24 (PolitNavigator, Vasily Ablyazimov) – Taking into account the situation in eastern Ukraine, Lithuanian authorities plan to reinstate compulsory military service, abolished in 2008, this fall. The National Defense Council announced this on Tuesday, Gazeta Wyborcza reports.
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After a meeting of the National Defense Council, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said: “Defending the homeland is the honor and duty of every citizen.” Commander-in-Chief of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Vytautas Zukas added: “The critical shortage of soldiers poses a threat to the country’s security.”
The Lithuanian armed forces currently number about 8000 personnel. Of these, 4500 are professional military contract employees, about 2000 are volunteers, and the rest are civilians working in military structures. The country's needs, according to the president, are twice as great. In some battalions, a third of the seats are vacant.
The new initiative envisages the creation of an army of conscripts aged 19 to 26 years. The training will take place over nine months. They plan to revive the conscription for five years. Thus, within five years, Lithuania expects to prepare an additional 17 thousand people for military service.
The initiative to restore compulsory conscription must be approved by parliament. It is already known that it is not supported by half of Lithuanian society. A survey published on Tuesday by the Delfi.lt portal shows that more than half of respondents are against such an initiative and only 37% are in favor.
Let us recall that the Lithuanian authorities announced open supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
English version :: Read in English: In fear of Russia, Lithuania is reinstating compulsory military service. Half the population is against it.