Poland aids search for missing US soldiers in Lithuania
Poland has joined the search operation for four American soldiers missing at the Lithuanian training ground in Pabrade. The President of Lithuania has arrived on the scene. In the evening, a team of American divers will also arrive at the training ground. There are new photos from the operation site.
What you need to know
- Four American soldiers went missing on Tuesday during exercises at the training ground in Pabrade, near the border with Belarus.
- Poland has sent a task force with heavy equipment and divers to assist in the search.
- Lithuanian Defence Minister, Dovile Szakaliene, emphasized that Poland's support is a gesture of solidarity and cooperation.
What actions have been taken at the training ground in Lithuania?
So far, the bodies of the four U.S. soldiers have not been found, and their deaths have not been confirmed. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Szakaliene said there are no guarantees that the soldiers are inside the vehicle. "All scenarios are still being examined," she added.
A Polish task force, consisting of dozens of soldiers, set out for Lithuania to help locate the soldiers and retrieve their armoured vehicle.
What complicates the search for the American soldiers?
The search is being conducted in challenging, swampy terrain, where the armoured Hercules vehicle was found at a depth of about 3 to 5 metres. "A different type of silt suction machine was used last night. The large dredger is expected to arrive today. Some silt was removed overnight, but not enough, and water keeps rushing into the site from the nearby lake," reported Szakaliene. Despite the difficulties, the work continues incessantly, involving both Lithuanian and foreign military personnel.
What are the next steps at the training ground?
Minister Szakaliene stated that the missing soldiers have not yet been found, and their deaths have not been confirmed. She added that the position of the vehicle and the way it should be accessed remain unknown. The search also involves helicopters from the Lithuanian Air Force and the State Border Guard Service. International cooperation is crucial in this complex rescue operation.
New photos from the training ground have emerged.
