A heartfelt thank you to Lithuanian farmers and a frank message about the reality of war

At the beginning of November, while travelling to Estonia (on Ukrainian defence issues), he made a short stop in Lithuania for the mission "Kariai –kariams &rdashiams&rdquo led by Antanas Kliunka; sponsored by the 34th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (ZSU), Captain Ivan Varchenko, who met his units' loyal supporters –  former head of the Lithuanian Grain Growers Association (LGAA), Aušris Macijauskas, and a farmer of the Kretinga district, Virginijus Čėsna.

„A. Macijauskas is a tireless supporter and organiser, and V. Čėsna personally inspects every pickup truck we buy with the LGAA's donations," says A. Kliunka, the head of the mission „Kariai-kariams“.

Ivan Varchenko last visited Lithuania in January 2022, and when the large-scale Russian invasion began, he took the initiative to set up one of the battalions of the 204th ILO Volunteers defending Kyiv (as many as 2018 volunteers, including both his sons) and was appointed Chief of Staff.

„In 2022, we were giving all our support to this battalion“, – recalled Kliunka, adding that in 2023, Ivan and his sons were already fighting in Bakhmut.

„For this battalion, we took 4 pickup trucks donated by the Lithuanian Association of Grain Growers to Konstantinovka (Donetsk region), which were transporting the wounded from the front line, even when they were half-blown up. Now Ivan and his brigade are defending Kherson," A. Kliunka told Agrobitei.

Both of Ivan's sons have become experienced UAV officers.

„We are very grateful that during almost four years of the war the Lithuanian Grain Growers' Association donated more than 20 all-terrain vehicles to the military units led by Ivan and his sons“, – the farmers' determination, said A. Kliunka.

While in Lithuania, Mr Varchenko presented certificates of appreciation to ZSU supporters and met them personally. These included both Aušrys Macijauskas and Virginijus Čėsna. It was to V. Chesna that Varchenko presented a bulletproof vest made of hemp fibre at the beginning of the war.

„Ivan had already given Dawn such a bulletproof vest before, – added A. Kliunka. I also introduced Ivan to another regular supporter, Šarūnas Šiuše, and his sons (Arnas, Titus and Gytis), as well as to businessman Stasys Vanagas.

A. Kliunka, the head of the mission „Kariai-kariams“, also told the details of his last telephone conversation with I. Varchenko. He said that the situation at the front is extremely difficult.

„He asked me timidly. Will you keep your hands up, will you still support us?“, – as if drawing parallels to the recent corrupt events in Ukraine.

„Be in no doubt, we will survive this great moral crisis and we will fight to the end, clinging to the soil of our homeland tooth and nail. We have no other choice," Varchenko said on the phone. And those soldiers whom we know well, sooner or later we will dig them out of the ground, and they will pay for our fallen brothers. Because for those 100 million dollars, at least 200 000 drones could have been produced. It is scary to think how many deaths we could have avoided.

Antanas Kliunka says that the 21-mission „Warrior-to-Warrior“ mission brought 7 vehicles to Kherson, including 2 SUVs, as well as 2 „Mavic“ reconnaissance drones. A drone donated by the Iron Wolf rugby community has already gone to the Zoporizh front.

„So if you are not yet disappointed with the Ukrainian soldiers and have the means, please support our mission“, – appeals to the people of goodwill the head of the mission „Kariai-kariams“, A. Kliunka.

An account where you can support the mission.