06/16/2026
📣 🇱🇹🌎🛡️ PLB valdybos narė ir Pilietinio atsparumo komisijos pirmininkė Irma Petraityte-Luksiene paskelbta įkvepiančiu pavyzdžiu!
🇩🇪 Vokietijos organizacija „Women in Defence Tech” šią savaitę oficialiai paskelbė šį įvertinimą - tai įrodymas, kad mūsų ruošimąsis visuotinei gynybai ir balsas tarptautinėje gynybos ir saugumo erdvėje yra matomi ir reikšmingi! Esame gerame kelyje - ir tęsiame toliau! 💪
„Women in Defence Tech” yra labai aktyvi Vokietijos organizacija, kuri jungia gynybos technologijų startuolius, investuotojus, pramonę ir politikos formuotojus, kad spartintų inovacijas ir stiprintų Europos kolektyvinį gynybinį pajėgumą. Organizacija veikia gynybos inovacijų, kapitalo ir lyderystės sankirtoje - kuria tiltus tarp technologijų, kariuomenės, mokslo ir politikos, puoselėdama stiprius ES ir Ukrainos ryšius 🇪🇺🤝🇺🇦
Moterų lyderystės matomumas - jos pagrindas🛡️💪
💬 💬 💬 „Women in Defence Tech“ įrašas:
With a background in cultural work and a deep commitment to civil resilience, Irma Petraityte-Luksiene brings a powerful perspective on the role of diaspora communities in total defence. Welcome Irma as our Women in Defense Tech Role Model!
🔘 Dear Irma, what brought you from cultural work into civil resilience and total defense?
Irma: Short answer: Russia.
This aggressive, imperial state is not only waging a brutal war against Ukraine, but also poses a direct threat to the national security of my homeland, Lithuania, and to European security as a whole through its ongoing hybrid warfare, including against Germany.
Lithuania endured 50 years of Soviet occupation, which was in fact Russian rule, marked by violence, deportations, and repression. I do not want Lithuania - or any other European country - to ever face that reality again.
🔘 How can diaspora communities support their country before and during a crisis?
Irma: Before a crisis, diaspora communities can strengthen resilience by supporting strategic preparedness, engaging in total defence structures, participating in training and mobilisation exercises, countering disinformation, and learning from the Ukrainian diaspora experience.
During a crisis or war, they can support information security, counter disinformation, mobilise international financial, logistical, and humanitarian aid, and assist with evacuations, especially for children, non-mobilised civilians, and wounded soldiers.
With German Bundeswehr troops present in Lithuania, a potential attack would require coordinated defence and civilian support across allies and society.
🔘 Can you share one example from your work where awareness turned into practical action?
Irma: On February 24, 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine made it clear that we were not sufficiently prepared for defence. I did not want Lithuania to face chaos and uncertainty in a similar scenario.
That year, I joined the Board of the Lithuanian World Community and took responsibility for diaspora preparedness for total defence. The goal is clear coordination on day X, so everyone knows their role and can act quickly with Lithuanian institutions and diaspora organisations.
We now work in a structured way through strategic planning, mobilisation exercises, and total defence seminars across countries, while strengthening resilience against Russian influence. The key is deterrence.
🔘 What should European countries do now to better prepare society for crisis or war?
Irma: European countries must first clearly and realistically recognise Russia as an imperial, terrorist, and criminal state. Defence must become a true priority given the ongoing war in Europe.
Political leaders must take responsibility for security and clearly communicate the threat landscape to society, as resilience depends on awareness. The focus must shift faster from discussion to action.
