Search Underway for Missing US Soldiers in Lithuania After Submerged Vehicle Found

The US Army has reported the discovery of a vehicle belonging to four missing US soldiers in Lithuania, found underwater. The soldiers vanished during a training operation at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground, close to Belarus’s border, with search efforts ongoing to locate them.

Both Lithuanian and international troops, supported by helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, have been working tirelessly to find the soldiers.

“The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle operated by the missing soldiers during their exercise has been located,” stated the US Army Europe and Africa’s public affairs office. “The vehicle was found submerged in a body of water within the training area, and recovery operations are currently in progress.”

Additionally, the search for the soldiers is still active.

In a previous report on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had mistakenly announced the death of the four soldiers, citing recent news reports. However, NATO’s acting spokesperson, Allison Hart, later clarified that despite such reports, details remain unverified.

The Lithuanian military earlier confirmed that no evidence has surfaced to confirm the soldiers’ deaths.

“Our teams are working tirelessly day and night. Everyone is prepared to provide emergency medical support,” stated Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė on social media platform X.

The report concerning the soldiers’ disappearance reached Lithuanian authorities on Tuesday afternoon.

The US Army Europe and Africa clarified that the soldiers were involved in routine tactical training when the incident occurred.

Lt Gen Charles Costanza, the commanding general of V Corps, expressed his gratitude, stating, “I want to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders for their swift assistance in our search missions.”

Currently, over 1,000 American soldiers are stationed in Lithuania on a rotational schedule.

Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia, is a NATO member, and these countries have often had strained relationships with Russia, Belarus’s key ally, since their independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Relations worsened further following Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda emerging as a vocal supporter of Ukraine’s defense against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.