Last week, the farewell to T. Tum was held in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. There, his comrades in arms, representatives of the Ukrainian army, Lithuanian ambassador to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas paid their last respects to him.
After the farewell, the remains of T. Tumas were cremated and brought to Lithuania.
On Friday, the urn was lit in Vilnius, St. Ignatius in the armory of the church. Today, the public can say goodbye to T. Tumus until 8 p.m.
G. Nausėda: “I came to honor the freedom soldier”
The first to say goodbye to T.Tum were representatives of the army, members of the Seimas, ministers of the interior and national defense Agnė Bilotaitė and Arvydas Anušauskas, Ukrainian ambassador to Lithuania Petro Bešta, and president Gitanas Nausėda.
VIDEO: G. Nausėda about Tadas Tumas: he was brave, and freedom was the highest value for him
G. Nausėda says that Russia can be stopped only by giving a comprehensive rebuff.
Photo by Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS/Vilnius saying goodbye to Tadu Tum
“Responsible for war and death are those who started that war. It is impossible to stop them with persuasions, persuasions, phone calls”, the head of the country told journalists, who arrived in the capital’s St. Ignatius church, where the deceased is said goodbye.
“There is another way, a fairer and more effective way – to give a rebuttal. Repulse on the battlefield and in every other sense, both with sanctions and complete isolation. It is important that we are not inconsistent and do not recall half solutions – some organizations isolate, others – open up. It is incomprehensible to me,” he added.
“I have come to honor the freedom fighter. We all know very well that Lithuania is unique in the sense that all our people, all as one, are ready to support Ukraine by all means. And especially brave people are ready to pay the highest price for it,” said G. Nausėda.
“First of all, this is a brave person for whom the freedom of the homeland is the highest value, and of course, the freedom of Ukraine. Respect to him,” said the president.
The most active fans of Vilnius “Žalgiris” football club also came to say goodbye to T. Tumus. T. Tumas was a passionate fan of Vilnius “Žalgiris” club, where he also found his wife, with whom he had two children.
A. Anušauskas: “I hope this is the last victim”
Minister of National Defense A. Anušauskas said that T. Tumas will be buried in Antakalnis cemetery at the request of his relatives:
“The Ministry of National Defense always provides that support to all soldiers, both former and current. It is a difficult time to organize such things. I really hope this is the last victim. But no one can predict the future. and for the Ukrainians themselves, this war will be very expensive.”
VIDEO: A. Anušauskas about Tadas Tumas, who died in the war: I hope that he is the last victim
S. Maliauskas: Tadas was honored in a special way in Kyiv
Sigitas Maliauskas, a comrade of T. Tumos, military instructor, said that Tad was specially honored by the Ukrainian army in Kyiv:
“Ukrainians said that it was the first time they saw a foreign soldier being taken out of a church to the Wall of Heroes. We have no doubt that Tad’s picture will appear there on the Heroes Board. The Ukrainian army really did everything nicely and neatly.”
VIDEO: Remembering Tad Tum: this shocked the Ukrainians, he was an inspiration to them
According to him, the death of every soldier at the front is painfully accepted: “However, it is one thing when a Ukrainian dies for the freedom of Ukraine. But they are deeply shocked when they learn that a foreign soldier died for the freedom of Ukraine. On his way to Ukraine, Tad signed the banner of the 150th artillery battalion. He is an inspiration to the Ukrainian soldiers themselves.”
According to S. Maliauskas, the Ukrainian soldier who was traveling with Tad remained alive, he is currently in the hospital.
S. Maliauskas remembered that Tadas had a very calm manner and did not speak much. He also shared internal details of the army. According to him, foreign soldiers have the privilege to choose the weapons they like, to have several weapons, and not to take the ones they are given. “For example, a Lithuanian machine gunner has even three machine guns there,” he said.
Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS photo/Sigitas Maliauskas
S. Maliauskas also told more about T. Tumos’ work at the front:
“Tad hadn’t spent a single night there when we left him there. Then we corresponded constantly. All I asked was that when they went out on a mission, he would write “we’re leaving” and when he came back, “we’re back.” He was happy with his last appointment, apparently he liked the novelty. He was assigned as a ground drone operator. Those drones can transport various types of cargo, ammunition, and machine guns can be mounted on them. Tad had the opportunity to drive such a drone to one or another position and from there fire at enemy positions. Also, those drones can evacuate the wounded and dead. Tad was preparing for this kind of work, he started working on it, but it didn’t last long…”
Ambassador of Ukraine: “We all mourn his soul”
Ukrainian Ambassador to Lithuania Petro Bešta said that it is difficult to say goodbye to a Lithuanian volunteer who died for the freedom of Ukraine, it involves complex emotions.
VIDEO: Ambassador of Ukraine: “Ukraine will never forget Tad’s sacrifice”
“Tad Tum was a brave soldier. He fought for the freedom of Ukraine, the freedom of Lithuania, because we have been fighting together against Russian imperialism for centuries. So we have to do everything we can to stop it. These are very difficult times for Europe. Everyone is mobilizing available resources, making every effort to stop this war and prevent it from happening again in the future. To never experience what we feel now. Ukrainians will never forget this sacrifice and support. We all mourn his soul,” the ambassador said.
Killed by a drone
The death of T. Tumos, nicknamed “Milžinas”, was reported on February 23. He was 42 years old.
photo from the Facebook profile of S. Maliauskas/Tadas Tumas
Sigitas Maliauskas, head of the “Snake Island” instructor mission in Ukraine, said that a Lithuanian and a Ukrainian were transporting mines to the front lines near Bachmut, when their car was hit by a Russian FPV drone.
“He was a mortar by duty. But as is often the case in combat operations, he performed various duties – as a driver, as a shooter, and as a scout,” S. Maliauskas told LRT RADIO’s Lietuvos Diena program.
A Lithuanian in his fifties went to fight in Ukraine three months ago.
Those who are able to support the relatives of the fallen soldier are asked to do so by transferring money to VšĮ “Iki pergalės” account LT177300010171472276. In the destination box, indicate “To the next of kin of a fallen soldier.”
Who was T. Tumas?
Tadas Tumas had started a family and raised two children. Last year, he graduated from the school of border guards, got a job at the Šalčininkai checkpoint, but later went to the war in Ukraine.
Giedrius Mišutis, representative of the State Border Guard Service 15min confirmed that T. Tumas graduated from the Border School last year and worked on the border with Belarus for several months. Later, he left the service and went to fight in Ukraine.
T. Tumas was a sworn fan of Vilnius “Žalgiris” football club. He belonged to the club’s most loyal fans, the South IV, and often attended the club’s matches. According to those who knew him, he had a calm manner.
The first to die on the battlefield
15min as far as we know, this is the first Lithuanian killed in combat operations in Ukraine. Earlier, it was reported about several Lithuanian fighters wounded in the battles.
VIDEO: With prayers and friends nearby: Lithuanian Tadas Tumas, who died in the war, was honored in Kyiv
in 2023 Valery Polkovnikovas, a Lithuanian who fought for Ukraine in Bakhmut, died in Kyiv hospital in the summer. The friend who reported his death said that V. Polkovnikov died from the injuries sustained in Bakhmut, but the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine did not confirm the news about the injuries. It was later clarified that the wounds were not the main cause of death.
VIDEO: Kneeling soldiers and trumpeters: Tadas, the hero of Ukraine and Lithuania, is seen off in Kyiv
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2024-04-12 05:21:18