4 American soldiers missing from training area in Lithuania, U.S. Army Europe and Africa says
Search efforts are still ongoing for four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during training in Lithuania, leaving behind a sunken military vehicle. Contrary to earlier claims of their demise, a NATO spokesperson clarified on Wednesday that the fate of the missing soldiers is still unknown. NATO stated that the search is ongoing and that details are still being gathered.
“This is still early news, so we do not know the details,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters in Warsaw. “This is really terrible news, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones.” Few details surrounding the incident have been provided by U.S. officials. An anonymous U.S. official mentioned that the soldiers were involved in a training accident but did not comment on their status.
The soldiers, who were conducting scheduled tactical training near Pabradė, a town north of Vilnius, went missing with their M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle. The vehicle was later discovered in a body of water in a training area during a search conducted by the U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and other Lithuanian authorities. The soldiers, part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia, have not been located yet.
Recovery efforts are currently underway by the U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces, and civilian agencies. The 3rd Infantry Division is actively keeping the soldiers’ families informed about the search efforts. The division expressed their thoughts and prayers for the missing soldiers on their Facebook page on Wednesday.
The training ground in Pabradė, located near the Belarusian border, has seen swift assistance from Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders. Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general, acknowledged the importance of teamwork and support in search operations, emphasizing the partnership between nations.
Lithuania, a NATO member, has had strained relations with Russia, a key ally of Belarus, since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. The Baltic countries, including Latvia and Estonia, have also faced challenges in their relations with Russia. The conflict in Ukraine has further escalated tensions, with Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda being a vocal supporter of Ukraine.
Fort Stewart has not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing search efforts. As updates become available, the U.S. military will provide further information. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
