The deaths of four missing US soldiers were confirmed by NATO on Tuesday evening following military exercises in Lithuania.
The US Army received information about the disappearance of the four soldiers and an armored vehicle at 16:45 on Monday. The incident occurred at the Pabradė training ground, near the Belarusian border, during scheduled tactical exercises.
A large-scale search operation, involving Lithuanian military personnel, began on Tuesday. Additionally, Lithuania’s armed forces deployed helicopters to assist in the search this afternoon.
The US Embassy in Vilnius also released a statement regarding the incident. The missing soldiers belonged to the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, which was conducting planned drills at the time of the incident.
Initially, authorities were alerted to the disappearance of three soldiers and their vehicle, but it was later confirmed that four soldiers were missing. Lithuanian police have not yet commented on the incident, stating that the circumstances are still under investigation.
The missing soldiers were reportedly inside an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, a powerful and heavy machine based on the Abrams tank. The vehicle weighs 63 tons, making it particularly vulnerable in Pabradė’s swampy terrain.
According to The New York Times, citing an anonymous US military official, the soldiers were likely inside the armored vehicle when it may have sunk into a swamp.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the tragedy, saying:
“While we were speaking, news arrived about four American soldiers who lost their lives in Lithuania. This is still a developing story, so details are not yet clear, but it is certainly a terrible incident. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.”
