‘Lithuanian’ Bayraktar TB2 destroys Russian invaders in Ukraine

The Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle, for which money was crowdfunded by Lithuanians, is already striking Russian invaders in Ukraine.

The video featuring the combat use of the drone was released by the Minister of Defense of Lithuania, Arvydas Anušauskas.

The unmanned combat aerial vehicle Bayraktar TB2 Vanagas (“Hawk”) arrived in Ukraine from Lithuania on July 9.

The first short video shows the drone landing after completing a combat mission.

The footage of the second video featuring the destruction of the crew of a towed howitzer, probably the Russian 122-mm howitzer D-30.

In June, Lithuania signed a contract with Turkey to supply the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Bayraktar drone. The Turkish manufacturer decided to provide the drone for free.

Prior to that, Lithuanians joined their efforts to collect funds for the purchase of an unmanned combat aerial vehicle in honour of Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.

They raised over €5 million in just three and a half days. Most donations were relatively small amounts of money from individuals. This was the first time in history, when civilians raised money to buy a combat drone to defend another country.

The campaign was initiated by Lithuanian Andrews Tapinas. He launched the campaign on May 25, saying he had agreed to a potential purchase with the defence ministries of Lithuania and Turkey, and the manufacturer.

The next day, a special broadcast was held to promote it, with top Lithuanian officials and the Ukrainian Ambassador in Lithuania participating.

On July 6, the unmanned combat aerial vehicle was presented to the Lithuanian public at the Air Force Base of Lithuania.

The drone along with the ammunition was delivered from Istanbul to Lithuania.

The Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicle for Lithuania was named Vanagas, which translates as Hawk.