Four US soldiers missing in Lithuania amid swampy search
In Lithuania, searches are underway for four American soldiers who went missing during training exercises. The authorities have located the missing vehicle and are attempting to access it. "There are swamps there. It's a very difficult area," we were informed at the Pabradė Municipality Office.
What do you need to know?
- Where and when did the soldiers go missing? Four American soldiers went missing on Tuesday afternoon at the Pabradė training ground, near the border with Belarus.
- What actions are being taken? Searches are being conducted by the US Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces, including the participation of Air Force helicopters and the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service.
- Dramatic search efforts. Information about the searches was received by Wirtualna Polska from the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence.
The search for the four missing American soldiers continues at the Pabradė training ground. By Thursday morning, intensive efforts were still in progress to recover the vehicle that sank in the swamp. As reported by the Lithuanian armed forces, a specialised dredger has been dispatched to the location to assist with the operations.
"While awaiting the arrival of the dredger, intense excavation work is ongoing and attempts are being made to reach the submerged equipment," reported the Lithuanian military.
Present at the scene are, among others, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, and US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald.
The search is being conducted in a very challenging and demanding area. The training ground in Pabradė is situated deep in the forest, surrounded by lakes and swamps. "There are swamps and a gas pipeline. It's a very difficult area and it will be hard to retrieve anything from there," we were told at the Pabradė Municipality Office.
"The area is closed to the general public. There is one road leading to the training ground, but we do not have access to it. We know that Americans, Lithuanians, and Germans are stationed at the training ground," commented the residents of Pabradė.
It’s a race against time
The operation is still ongoing at the scene. "The head of state receives all information. Currently, the main focus is on the search and rescue of the missing soldiers. It has been ongoing for two days and is quite a complicated operation, so the president expresses gratitude to those involved. He also supports the families and comrades of the missing, offering hope for a favourable outcome," announced A. Varnelis, advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
"I do not want to speculate about the conclusion of the operation, because at any moment we are facing a challenge – it’s flowing water, it’s silt. I cannot answer this question precisely," stated Lieutenant Aušrius Buikus, the commander of the operation on site. The military official noted that the vehicle could be located at a depth of 3 to 5 metres.
"We are working at full capacity around the clock to reach the vehicle as quickly as possible. The gas pipeline is depressurised, the ground is stabilised, water is constantly being drained, and a device for clearing channels to remove silt is on its way. Searches are ongoing," added Minister Šakalienė.
