Lithuania: Controversy over death of Lithuanian volunteer in Ukraine

The death of a Lithuanian volunteer, Valerijus Polkovnikovas, in Ukraine has caused controversy as it was initially believed to be related to frontline injuries, which later turned out to be untrue, Baltic News Network reports. Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas first expressed condolences and praised the fallen fighter in a social media post but quickly deleted it after the information turned out to be incorrect. The Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine, Valdemaras Sarapinas, confirmed that the volunteer did not fight on the frontline, and that the embassy was investigating the circumstances. Anusauskas faced criticism for relying on social media for information. Social media posts suggested that the deceased individual taught Ukrainians how to use drones. The exact number of Lithuanians fighting in Ukraine is unclear.