After learning of Lithuania's fundraising campaign to buy a drone for its embattled neighbor Ukraine, a Turkish defense firm decided to send one to the country for free, the firm announced on Thursday.
"The people of Lithuania have honourably raised funds to buy a Bayraktar TB2 for Ukraine. Upon learning this, Baykar will gift a Bayraktar TB2 to Lithuania and asks those funds go to Ukraine for humanitarian aid," defense firm Baykar said on Twitter.
The major Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle producer also shared photos of a visit by Vilius Semeska, Lithuania's deputy defense minister, to Baykar headquarters in Istanbul.
Following the Turkish defense firm's announcement, Lithuania's Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas thanked Turkey.
"It is UNBELIEVABLE but Turkey just agreed to give the Bayraktar that Lithuania gathered money for, FOR FREE. It is amazing! ... Thank you Turkey!" he said on Twitter.
Anusauskas added that the money raised for the drone will go to support Ukraine.
Hundreds of people chipped in to buy the drone for Ukraine as a show of solidarity in its war against Russia, which also once ruled Lithuania.
A total of 5.9 million euros ($6.2 million) was raised in just 5-1/2 days, mostly in small donations, according to Laisves TV, the Lithuanian internet broadcaster that launched the drive.
About 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) of the funds raised will be used to pay for armaments for the drone, the defence ministry said, with the rest used for other help for Ukraine.
Kyiv has previously bought dozens of the TB2 drones, which have proven effective in recent years against Russian forces and their allies in conflicts in Syria and Libya.
Lithuania is also looking to purchase a Bayraktar or a similar drone for its own military, Semaska told Reuters. "We are looking into a TB2 but it could also be a TB3 or another drone armed with missiles," he said.
