Vehicle of Four Missing U.S. Soldiers Found Submerged in Water in Lithuania
The vehicle of four missing U.S. soldiers has been found submerged in water in Lithuania, the U.S. Army confirmed, as search operations for the soldiers continue. The soldiers disappeared during a military exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, a town located less than 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus.
Lithuanian and foreign troops, supported by helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, have been conducting an extensive search. U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s public affairs office stated, “The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing U.S. soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania. The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area … Recovery efforts are under way. Search efforts for the soldiers continue.”
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the soldiers had been “killed,” but later clarification from NATO’s acting spokesperson, Allison Hart, indicated that Rutte was referring to emerging news reports and that the deaths had not been confirmed. The Lithuanian army also confirmed that there was “no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops.”
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating on X, “People [are] working round the clock. Everybody remains on standby, ready to provide emergency medical support.” Lithuanian authorities first received the report of the soldiers’ disappearance on Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. Army Europe and Africa confirmed that the soldiers were engaged in scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general, expressed gratitude for the swift response of Lithuanian forces and first responders, stating, “I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.”
More than 1,000 American troops are stationed in Lithuania on a rotational basis. Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, is a NATO member and has had tense relations with Russia, a key ally of Belarus, since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. These tensions have escalated further following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has been one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces.
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