Recovery efforts continue for four missing U.S soldiers near the spot where their Hercules armored vehicle was found submerged at a training range in Pabrade soldiers stand in the back of a truck on a road towards a training range in Pabrade Military road equipment working at a training range in Pabrade Soldiers walk along a road near a training range in Pabrade Lithuanian soldiers patrol on a road near a training range in Pabrade soldiers gather near military and other vehicles parked at a training range in Pabrade soldiers stand near military vehicles parked at a training range in Pabrade Eurocopters Tiger of the German Army take part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise ‘Grand Quadriga 2024' at a training range in Pabrade Lithuanian military police stand near military and other vehicles parked at a training range in Pabrade Military and other vehicles are seen parked at a training range in Pabrade Military road and other equipment are seen parked at a training range in Pabrade A military vehicle parked at a bridge towards at a training range in Pabrade Military road equipment seen working at a training range in Pabrade The sign “no tanks” is set on the forest road towards a training range in Pabrade Poland (AP) — NATO on Wednesday clarified comments that Secretary-General Mark Rutte made earlier in the day soldiers who went missing while training in Lithuania had died Army said their fate was not yet confirmed “The search is ongoing,” NATO said in a statement posted on X “We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today He was referring to emerging news reports & was not confirming the fate of the missing Army said the Hercules armored vehicle the four U.S soldiers were in during a training exercise had been found submerged in a body of water It said recovery efforts were underway by U.S Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies were conducting tactical training when they went missing Asked Wednesday evening by reporters if he had been briefed about the missing soldiers “This is still early news so we do not know the details This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones,” Rutte said in Warsaw Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported that the four U.S soldiers and their vehicle were reported missing Tuesday afternoon during an exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė a town located less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus The body of the fourth and final missing U.S after the armored vehicle the soldiers were operating became submerged in a dense swamp in Lithuania Their identities have been withheld while their next of kin are being notified "This past week has been devastating. Today our hearts bear the weight of an unbearable pain with the loss of our final Dogface Soldier," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, in a statement Tuesday The bodies of three of the soldiers were located on Monday as the vehicle was removed from the peat bog after a six-day recovery effort by hundreds of service members from the U.S. as well as members of Lithuanian government and civilian agencies The soldiers, all part of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart in Georgia, went missing in the early hours of March 25 while on a training mission to recover another Army vehicle The incident happened in a training area near Pabradė a city in eastern Lithuania close to the Belarus border The vehicle carrying the four soldiers was discovered the next day buried under a thick layer of mud and water Recovery efforts were complicated by the muddy swampland and 70-ton weight of the soldiers' M88 Hercules armored vehicle The first signs of progress took place on Sunday Navy dive team deployed to the recovery operation successfully attached cables to two hoist points on the submerged vehicle with the goal of pulling the vehicle out of the mud "The process is projected to take a significant amount of time and effort, as the terrain surrounding the peat bog remains challenging - but the rescue workers will not be deterred," U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement at the time The Lithuanian Defense Ministry said Sunday that attaching the first hoist "took hours of diving in complete darkness." Over the past week, rescue crews worked to remove water and mud from the site using various draining, digging and dredging techniques. The Army said the process was slow and challenging due to "ground water seepage." The terrain was unable to support the heavy equipment required to extract the vehicle the commanding general of the 1st Armored Division said in Tuesday's statement that he and others were relieved "to bring this recovery to an end and bring closure to all the Families He added: "We cannot thank our Allies and fellow service members enough who spared no resource in support of this mission we delivered on our promise to never leave a fallen comrade." The Army said it was investigating what caused the accident Become an NPR sponsor soldiers in Lithuania has been hampered by wet and muddy terrain complicating an effort involving hundreds of personnel and Lithuanian asset to coordinate for and provide the required resources for this effort,” U.S The soldiers were inside an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle when they went off course into a bog The submerged M88 was discovered Wednesday evening during a search-and-rescue effort by American troops and Lithuanian authorities thick mud and soft ground around the site have complicated recovery efforts and have required specialized equipment to drain water from the side and stabilize the ground,” U.S The Army has not declared the soldiers dead with officials saying they are still considered missing have been missing since the early hours of Tuesday They were on a maintenance mission to recover another U.S Army vehicle during scheduled unit training on Lithuanian military grounds The initial search took rescuers through thick forests and swampy terrain and Lithuanian soldiers and law enforcement have been assisting in the effort along with military helicopters and diving teams Engineers at the site are working to create berms to establish a contained area from which water can be pumped and mud dredged providing emergency personnel on site access to the vehicle this is an incredibly complex engineering effort The team on the ground is working to remove enough water and mud for rescue teams to safely reach Army engineers are excavating mud from the site and making improvements to support heavy equipment needed for recovery The Army said the families of the soldiers are being kept up to date on the status of the search “This tragic situation weighs heavily on all of us and we’re keeping the families friends and teammates of our soldiers and recovery team in our thoughts and prayers,” Taylor said we will not stop until our Soldiers are found.” The soldiers were training at a military site near the city of Pabrade about 6 miles from Lithuania’s border with Belarus The 1st Armored Brigade was among the first units to deploy to Europe in the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine The unit returned to the Continent in January to begin another nine-month rotation Units within the brigade train in Lithuania Poland and other parts of NATO’s eastern flank This work, Strong Griffin: 1st Cavalry soldiers adapt and learn in Lithuania, by SPC Trey Gonzales, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. “The fourth U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division was found deceased near Pabradė, Lithuania the afternoon of April 1,” the statement said on Tuesday. The soldier’s identity has not been disclosed pending notification of relatives. During the seven-day rescue operation, a joint allied team worked day and night to find the missing soldiers, according to the report. The US military is investigating the cause of the incident and further details will be made public as circumstances allow. Three of the four US soldiers missing at the training ground were found on Monday after an M88 Hercules armoured carrier was pulled out of a swamp. The four US troops and an armoured carrier disappeared last Tuesday during a training exercise in eastern Lithuania. The search and rescue operation lasted almost a week. It involved Lithuanian and US troops, as well as Polish and Estonian soldiers, officials and civilians. The US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has released the identities of three of the deceased soldiers: Edwin Franco, 25, from California, Dante Taitano, 21, from Guam, and Jose Duenez, 25, from Illinois. The identity of the fourth soldier, whose body was retrieved on Tuesday, has been withheld until the family is notified, according to the statement. “This loss is simply devastating,” it quotes Major General Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general. “These men were honored soldiers of the Marne Division. We are wrapping our arms around the families and loved ones of our soldiers during incredibly difficult time.” Condolensces from Lithuanian and US leaders Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has issued a message of condolence over the death of the soldier. “I convey my sincere condolences to the United States of America and all its people and to the soldier’s relatives and comrades. We have carried out the search operation tirelessly, feeling a great commitment to our American friends who are our staunch allies,” the Lithuanian leader said. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, together with the Government of Lithuania, expressed condolences on the confirmed death of the fourth US soldier. “We share the grief with their families and friends, fellow servicemen, and the entire American nation. We consider soldiers of Allies our brothers and sisters,” the prime minister while thanking “everyone involved in the search and rescue operation”. Condolences have also been conveyed by the leadership of Lithuania’s national defence system. US Secretary of Defence Pete Heghseth has also posted a message on X, thanking Lithuanian partners for the joint efforts during the search operation and expressing condolences to the soldiers' families. Today, I was informed that the remains of the fourth and final missing U.S. Army Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were recovered in Lithuania. I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers.… Several hundred people gathered on Tuesday afternoon outside the US Embassy in Vilnius on Tuesday to pay respects to the American soldiers who drowned during the training exercise at Pabradė. US Ambassador Kara McDonald told the crowd that such actions are an expression of the NATO alliance. “I look around, I see this crowd and I am literally stunned. Thank you very, very much for coming tonight to express solidarity. [...] We are very grateful,” she said. Among those present were politicians, Lithuanian and German soldiers, members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union. Most came with flowers, candles and US flags. Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday night, Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas, Chief of Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, told reporters that the fourth body was discovered in the swamp near the site of the armoured vehicle. “At the end of the day, very close to the place where the armoured vehicle was found, using excavators, very slowly, little by little, the body was found,” he said. According to Baltrėnas, it was “50-percent miracle” and focused efforts that helped find the body. He refused to comment on the reasons that led to the deaths of the four Americans, saying the investigation was being conducted by the US. “The investigation into what really happened and what the causes were is being conducted by the US and once that investigation is concluded, it will be their decision whether to share the results or not,” he underlined. According to the chief of Defence Staff, the equipment used during the operation is to be removed from the Pabradė training ground on Wednesday. “What will happen tomorrow is that we will first remove all the equipment that is no longer needed and we will draw up a management plan, working with other state institutions,” Baltrėnas said. The 3rd Infantry Division said Wednesday that the soldier was Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Mich. It said Knutson-Collins and two of the other soldiers who died have been posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. The other two sergeants who were promoted were Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Ill., and Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale. The other soldier who died was Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam. Their three bodies were recovered Monday after U.S., Polish and Lithuanian armed forces and other rescuers dug their M88 Hercules vehicle out of a peat bog at the expansive Gen. Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in the town of Pabrade, six miles west of the border with Belarus. All four soldiers were part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, and were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle were reported missing March 25, the Army said. The 63-ton armored vehicle was discovered the following day submerged in 15 feet of water. It took days to pull it out of the bog. Knutson-Collins, an artillery mechanic, had served in the Army for more than seven years and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment. He deployed to South Korea in 2020. “Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit,” said Capt. Jackson Patillo, a commander in the 1st Battalion. “Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss.” There will be a formal dignified departure ceremony for the soldiers on Thursday in Vilnius, the capital, which is expected to include top Lithuanian officials and military leaders. They will eventually be transported to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. World & Nation World & Nation Politics Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed The soldiers were on a training exercise at the massive General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė when they and their vehicle were reported missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning Department of Defense released video of the search for four U.S Army says three of the soldiers who went missing have been found dead in an armored vehicle that was pulled from a swampy area early Monday Army soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel Army M88 Hercules submerged under several meters of water in a swamp near a training area near Pabadre Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel build a makeshift dam from HESCO barrier bags during recovery efforts for four U.S a Lithuanian engineer probes through mud for solid ground with a rod during recovery efforts for four U.S The bodies of the three soldiers were recovered after a massive six-day effort by U.S. Polish and Lithuanian armed forces and authorities to dig the M88 Hercules vehicle out of a peat bog at the expansive General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė The soldiers were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle were reported missing early Tuesday The command in a statement said the identities of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division soldiers are being withheld pending family notifications “We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary ‘Dogface Soldiers’ during this unimaginable time,” said Maj “But the search isn’t finished until everyone is home Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found.” Lithuanian armed forces provided military helicopters unmanned aerial systems and search and rescue personnel technical experts and several hundred tons of gravel and earth to help the recovery Navy divers were able to maneuver through thick layers of mud clay and sediment “with zero visibility” to reach the 63-ton vehicle Sunday evening and find two points to attach steel cables The command said that during the effort to pull out the vehicle so additional heavy dozers were brought in and attached to provide additional grip The vehicle was pulled free after about two hours “The armored vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 a.m. Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work,” Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said Monday morning in a post on Facebook The Navy dive team is now searching the area using radar for the fourth soldier who is still missing commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division thanked the “heroic efforts” of those involved in the search and recovery Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating what caused the incident Army Soldier assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division was found deceased near Pabradė Lithuania the afternoon of April 1,” the statement said on Tuesday The soldier’s identity has not been disclosed pending notification of relatives we offer condolences to the loved ones of our soldiers,” said Gen “I can’t say enough about the support our Lithuanian allies have provided us alongside our Polish and Estonian allies – and our own sailors airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers – have enabled us to find and bring home our soldiers but it reinforces what it means to have allies and friends.” a joint allied team worked day and night to find the missing soldiers The US military is investigating the cause of the incident and further details will be made public as circumstances allow Three of the four US soldiers missing at the training ground were found on Monday after an M88 Hercules armoured carrier was pulled out of a swamp The four US troops and an armoured carrier disappeared last Tuesday during a training exercise in eastern Lithuania The search and rescue operation lasted almost a week The US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division has released the identities of three of the deceased soldiers: Edwin Franco has been withheld until the family is notified “This loss is simply devastating,” it quotes Major General Christopher Norrie the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general “These men were honored soldiers of the Marne Division We are wrapping our arms around the families and loved ones of our soldiers during incredibly difficult time.” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has issued a message of condolence over the death of the soldier “I convey my sincere condolences to the United States of America and all its people and to the soldier’s relatives and comrades We have carried out the search operation tirelessly feeling a great commitment to our American friends who are our staunch allies,” the Lithuanian leader said expressed condolences on the confirmed death of the fourth US soldier “We share the grief with their families and friends We consider soldiers of Allies our brothers and sisters,” the prime minister while thanking “everyone involved in the search and rescue operation” Condolences have also been conveyed by the leadership of Lithuania’s national defence system US Secretary of Defence Pete Heghseth has also posted a message on X thanking Lithuanian partners for the joint efforts during the search operation and expressing condolences to the soldiers' families I was informed that the remains of the fourth and final missing U.S Army Soldier from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team 3rd Infantry Division were recovered in Lithuania I want to personally extend my deepest condolences to the families of all four fallen Soldiers.… Several hundred people gathered on Tuesday afternoon outside the US Embassy in Vilnius on Tuesday to pay respects to the American soldiers who drowned during the training exercise at Pabradė US Ambassador Kara McDonald told the crowd that such actions are an expression of the NATO alliance I see this crowd and I am literally stunned very much for coming tonight to express solidarity members of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday night Chief of Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces told reporters that the fourth body was discovered in the swamp near the site of the armoured vehicle very close to the place where the armoured vehicle was found it was “50-percent miracle” and focused efforts that helped find the body He refused to comment on the reasons that led to the deaths of the four Americans saying the investigation was being conducted by the US “The investigation into what really happened and what the causes were is being conducted by the US and once that investigation is concluded it will be their decision whether to share the results or not,” he underlined the equipment used during the operation is to be removed from the Pabradė training ground on Wednesday “What will happen tomorrow is that we will first remove all the equipment that is no longer needed and we will draw up a management plan working with other state institutions,” Baltrėnas said Mourners carrying wreaths and flags filled the streets in Lithuania’s capital of Vilnius on Wednesday to memorialize four U.S soldiers who died last week during a military training exercise The deaths have moved the public in Lithuania a small Baltic state bordering Russia’s military exclave of Kaliningrad which was annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II and which gained its independence after the Cold War military as a protector from potential aggression directed by the Kremlin “The tragic incident has shaken us all to the depths of our hearts,” Lithuania’s defense ministry said in a statement Tuesday which began gathering Tuesday evening soon after it was announced that all four soldiers were found dead is expected to increase for a larger community observance Thursday The Lithuanian government has organized a ceremony marking the dignified departure of the soldiers as they depart Vilnius for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Civic and military leaders will be among those paying tribute Thursday morning as a convoy carries the remains of the soldiers to the airport in Vilnius Officials are preparing for crowds to line the streets An honor platoon from the 3rd Infantry Division also will take part in the ceremony After a nearly weeklong rescue and recovery effort the Army on Tuesday announced the deaths of Staff Sgt in the March 25 accident on a Lithuanian training site who was recovered Tuesday from the bog where the group’s armored vehicle had sunk during an early morning mission Franco and Collins all were promoted posthumously “We mourn this tragic loss with profound sorrow the Lithuanian nation stands in solidarity with the families of the soldiers and with the American people,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said Tuesday the attachment point for the second cable was located the extraction operation began," Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told LRT RADIO on Monday morning along with two additional bulldozers for anchoring as the initial setup was insufficient," she said the armoured vehicle weighed nearly 70 tons and was stuck in the mud which significantly increased its effective weight due to resistance.Later on Monday the US army confirmed that it had recovered the bodies of three American servicemen while the search for the fourth one was continuing "Three US Army Soldiers [...] were found deceased in Lithuania today," the US Army Europe and Africa said in a statement Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin "Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found," Major General Christopher Norrie went missing during an exercise at the military training area near the Belarusian border on Tuesday The vehicle was initially located on Wednesday at a depth of about five meters in a swampy area divers were able to attach cables onto the vehicle which was found lying sideways at the bottom of the swamp Lithuanian Lieutenant Colonel Aušrius Buikus The large-scale rescue effort involved Lithuanian and US forces Several dozen Polish troops with specialised equipment had also joined the operation Lithuanian prosecutors have now opened a pre-trial investigation to determine the cause of death Defence Minister Šakalienė said it was "a very sad day for Lithuania" "These young soldiers will always remain in the heart of Lithuania We are deeply grateful for their selfless sacrifice in choosing the military profession Their example will always remind us of what true courage means," the minister said in a Facebook post Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said his thoughts and prayers were with the families and loved ones of the servicemen "We experience this loss as our own," Lithuania's top diplomat said "We remain extremely grateful to our closest allies for their presence in Lithuania." "Lithuania will continue to provide the best support to allied forces serving in our country." he added saying “we hoped for a miracle until the very last moment” "Their deaths are a painful blow not only to their American fellow servicemen but also to the Lithuanian Armed Forces," Nausėda added Lithuania has been receiving words of support from allies "The signals we've been receiving are those of gratitude for the support we're providing and how we're organising the rescue efforts It's really visible how mobilised society is and how much attention is being paid," Budrys told reporters on Sunday because when our allies come to train here they have to be sure they'll have everything they need if a disaster strikes – and disasters do happen," the minister said Budrys attended Sunday mass at Vilnius Cathedral where prayers were held for the US soldiers who went missing at the Pabradė training area on Tuesday "Solidarity is being shown among the allied forces in Lithuania and our military as well as between the military and political communities who gathered here and sent a message that this situation is very important to us," the minister said Work continued overnight at the Pabrade training ground in eastern Lithuania, where four US soldiers have been missing since Tuesday. Their vehicle was found submerged in a swamp and the rescue operation is ongoing, made more difficult by a nearby gas pipe, on Friday, the 28th of March, reports Lithuanian broadcaster LRT which was carrying US soldiers and weighs several dozen tonnes was found on Wednesday and is about five metres deep “It is not visible from the surface and it is difficult to feel it even with metal rods,” Lithuanian Armed Forces Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras said on Thursday crews pumped out some of the silt in an effort to reach the armoured vehicle but as the water from a nearby lake continued to flow Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė announced on Friday morning that a large dredger from the Inland Waterways Directorate (IWD) was being deployed TWO TO THREE METRES WERE PUMPED OUT OVERNIGHT BUT THE muddy WATER STILL PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM BEING SEEN The Minister said a longer pipe is needed to pump out the accumulating water and the 300-metre pipe in the hands of the IWD “will allow the muddy water to be pumped further away from the accident site … By the evening we should finally be able to break this last barrier of silt” Šakalienė said that once the vehicle is visible “at the moment the plan is to attach ropes use pulleys and bring it out with military equipment” It is still unclear whether the missing soldiers are inside and all possible scenarios are being considered The rescue operation in LTU Pabrade training area is intensively continuing, and a site is being prepared for specialized equipment. pic.twitter.com/Qc4rQlvJI3 — Lithuanian_Armed_Forces (@LTU_Army) March 27, 2025 Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda also visited the scene on Friday morning although many sceptics would probably say that there is nothing to hope for in such circumstances,” the President told reporters at the Pabrade training ground Lithuanian officials say the search and rescue operation is technically very complex various government agencies and private companies Dozens of Polish soldiers with equipment have also arrived to help All authorities are “working hand in hand perhaps only show how strong we are when we are together when we feel the shoulder of our friends,” said Nausied said told reporters that additional US military experts were on their way to the scene “A team of army engineers arrived last night A team of US Navy divers will arrive this afternoon,” the Ambassador said Four American soldiers aboard the M88 Hercules went missing on Tuesday during a training exercise at the Pabrade training ground near the Belarusian border It is assumed that the soldiers wandered into a swamp due to human reasons Also read: Search for missing US soldiers at Lithuanian training ground continues Follow us on Facebook and X Search operations are underway for a fourth missing soldier “The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers — they were a part of our family,” Maj “Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division Norrie added that the search “isn’t finished until everyone is home.” The accident happened near the city of Pabrade at a base about 6 miles from the border with Belarus Several hundred tons of gravel and earth were added to stabilize the soft ground near the bog where the vehicle was submerged some 15 feet under water and thick sludge Several heavy vehicles using winches for roughly two hours finally removed the M88A2 from the bog offered thanks for the “heroic efforts” of the search parties and the Lithuanians in particular “Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrates the strong relationship between our countries,” Taylor said military leaders arrived in Lithuania during the rescue operation Christopher Cavoli attended a special church service in the capital of Vilnius and later visited the recovery location McDonald were at the rescue site to observe operations on Monday said the unit was ensuring necessary support services were being provided to families and soldiers and we will hold them close in our memories,” Armstrong said Army officials announced that the soldiers had been found after their 63-ton armored recovery vehicle went missing Crews working overnight removed some silt in an effort to reach the armoured vehicle but a large dredger from the Inland Waterways Directorate (IWD) is being brought in as water continues to flood the site Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said on Friday morning “A different type of silt suction machine was used last night The large dredger is expected to arrive today and water keeps rushing into the site from the nearby lake,” she told LRT RADIO Although two to three meters were cleared overnight murky water is still preventing visibility of the vehicle The minister said a longer pipe is needed on Friday to pump out the accumulating water from the pit “The 300-meter pipe they (the IWD) have will allow pumping the silt-water mixture far from the incident site If not in the way we are trying to do it this morning then we should finally break through this last silt barrier between us and the tank toward the evening,” she told LRT RADIO Because of the unstable ground and rising water the submerged American recovery vehicle must be pulled out before it can be safely inspected “Entering it without pulling it out poses a high risk for rescuers and haul it ashore with military equipment,” she said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda visited the scene of the incident on Friday morning although many sceptics would probably say that there is nothing to hope for in these circumstances I want to hope,” the president told reporters at the Pabradė training ground Lithuanian and US troops and Lithuanian authorities are taking part in the large-scale rescue operation Dozens of Polish troops with equipment are also coming to help All institutions are “working hand in hand perhaps only confirm how strong we are when we are together when we feel the shoulder of our friends,” said Nausėda the US Ambassador to Lithuania who is at the scene told journalists that more US military specialists are on their way to the scene “A team of army engineers arrived last night A team of US Navy divers will arrive this afternoon So we are bringing more capacity to the area,” the diplomat said McDonald said she could not provide further details on the arrival of US troops The four American soldiers aboard an M88 Hercules tracked recovery vehicle went missing during an exercise at the Pabradė training area in Švenčionys District on Tuesday and the vehicle was located at a depth of around five meters It remains unclear whether the missing soldiers are inside are conducting a pre-trial investigation into the soldiers’ disappearance Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said on Thursday morning that there were “positive signs” in the ongoing effort to retrieve a US tracked armoured vehicle from water as the rescue operation for four missing US soldiers continues The vehicle was carrying four US soldiers who went missing during a training exercise at the Pabradė training area in eastern Lithuania on Tuesday “There are certain positive signs that give hope for a quicker scenario thanks to certain technical recovery possibilities,” Šakalienė told LRT on Thursday morning the rescue efforts continued throughout the night involving water pumping and ground reinforcement to allow heavy equipment to access the site without damaging a gas pipeline The possible location of the incident was identified on Wednesday when the M88 Hercules tracked recovery vehicle the US troops were in during the training exercise was found submerged in a body of water it remains unclear whether the missing American soldiers are inside “There’s no guarantee the soldiers are in [the vehicle] Other scenarios are also being considered,” Šakalienė said Šakalienė and Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas went to Pabradė on Thursday morning She said the vehicle is submerged deep in the water and still needs to be recovered in order to confirm if the four soldiers are inside and the Americans have informed us that they also continued to search the surrounding area throughout the night because any scenarios are still considered possible until we see the vehicle which is several metres deep,” Šakalienė said during the visit to the Pabradė training ground “We cannot confirm whether there are soldiers in the vehicle,” she added “It is not visible from the surface and it is difficult to feel it even with metal rods,” said Raimundas Vaikšnoras during the 24 hours of the rescue operation a road had to be built in the swampy area so that heavy machinery could reach the scene The minister hopes that the works will go smoothly and that the water flow will be stopped other equipment or piling will be considered “There is nothing we can do to speed it up,” she said The minister said the missing young US soldiers had been in Lithuania for about two months The authorities are in constant contact with their families the situation is complicated by the fact that a high-pressure gas pipe runs through the area “It was full of gas and we needed gas engineers so that our heavy equipment could start the work,” said the military commander The search and rescue operation involves Lithuanian and US troops Šakalienė also said that a decision would soon be made on whether the rescue work could be carried out “under the shorter scenario” using an excavator rather than putting poles into the swamp When the long-reach amphibious excavator begins digging we’ll see if they managed to stabilise the area so that water entering the marshland can be controlled allowing us to continue the work,” she said specialists will also assess whether a dredger is needed “Private companies are actively involved and responding very willingly Contracts are in place to allow additional steps to be taken,” she said If a dredger does not achieve the desired result the next scenario involves driving poles into the lake which would “add several days to the work” we hope that perhaps [...] we can avoid putting poles in the lake to stop the water and instead move forward with excavation in the current phase,” the minister said “It’s very hard to say exactly how long this will take,” she added Šakalienė said that “hundreds of people” have been continuously working at the site Vaikšnoras added that dozens of specialised equipment units have been deployed we’re at a point today where we expect excavation to begin successfully on the peat and mud and we’ll likely be able to determine the vehicle’s position US army says search efforts are ongoing after Nato secretary general tells reporters servicemembers were ‘killed’ The vehicle of four United States soldiers missing in Lithuania has been discovered submerged in water adding that search efforts for the soldiers were ongoing The soldiers went missing during a military drill during an exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė a town located less than 10km (6 miles) from the border with Belarus along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service “The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the four missing US soldiers were operating during a training exercise has been located in Lithuania,” US Army Europe and Africa’s public affairs office said in a statement “The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area … Recovery efforts are under way,” it said “Search efforts for the soldiers continue,” it added Earlier on Wednesday the Nato secretary general had told reporters that the four soldiers had been “killed” “The secretary general was referring to news reports that had just emerged He did not confirm the death of the four US soldiers but noted that the details remain unconfirmed,” the Nato acting spokesperson The Lithuanian army said earlier there was “no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops” ready to provide emergency medical support,” the Lithuanian defence minister Lithuanian authorities received a report about the soldiers’ disappearance on Tuesday afternoon US Army Europe and Africa’s public affairs office confirmed in its statement that the soldiers “were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident” “I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian armed forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” said Lt Gen Charles Costanza More than 1,000 American troops are stationed in Lithuania on a rotational basis Latvia and Estonia are all Nato members and have often had chilly ties with Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 Relations soured further over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has been one of the most outspoken supporters of Ukraine in its fight against the forces of the Russian president Belarusian Customs reported that an American man was found in an empty train carriage in Molodechno and was detained for illegally crossing the Belarusian border “He is in no way connected with the events at the Pabradė training area,” Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service (VSAT) said on Tuesday the person was staying in Lithuania legally for a couple of weeks Lithuanian border guards talked to him at the border with Russia on March 26 and also at the Kybartai railway station on the border with Belarus and in the vicinity of the Kena railway station on March 27 and 30 The Lithuanian Armed Forces announced on Monday that three of the four US soldiers went missing at the Pabradė training area last week were found dead in their M88 Hercules armoured vehicle The vehicle was pulled out of a swamp after almost a week of search and rescue work The search for the fourth missing US soldier continues The US Army says the bodies of three of its soldiers who went missing in Lithuania during a training exercise last week have been found Rescue teams are still searching for a fourth soldier who also went missing on the morning of 25 March The search was launched after their M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle became submerged in a bog during a mission to repair and tow an immobilised tactical vehicle It took six days to remove it from the muddy swamp with the help of Lithuanian military helicopters and unmanned aerial systems slurry pumps and several hundred tonnes of gravel and earth The soldiers were all assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team They'd been deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia.  In a statement issued by US Army Europe and Africa Major General Christopher Norrie said: The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers – they were a part of our family." We mourn the tragic loss of U.S. soldiers in Lithuania. Our deepest condolences go out to their families and comrades during this difficult time. We honour their service and sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/sEhGdtiExm The Lithuanian MOD says it honours the soldiers' service and sacrifice An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing with US and Lithuanian teams looking into the incident It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I received the news of the tragic loss of three U.S. soldiers during a US-led training exercise in Lithuania. The search and rescue operation will continue until the fourth soldier is found.@realDonaldTrump, Lithuania mourns together with… pic.twitter.com/2477rTQwZJ Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda said on X: "It is with deep sadness and sorrow that I received the news of the tragic loss of three US soldiers during a US-led training exercise in Lithuania "The search and rescue operation will continue until the fourth soldier is found.  Lithuania mourns together with the American nation the loved ones of those who lost their lives and all the people of the United States of America Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: and our thoughts are with families and loved ones," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications InstagramXThreadsSnapchatTikTokYouTubeLAD Entertainment Home> News> US News 'Search and recovery efforts' are underway after four US Army soldiers vanished during a training exercise near Lithuania’s border with Belarus Both the US military and the Baltic nation's forces are working to find the missing men The troops were taking part in planned tactical training when they disappeared in an area near Pabrade In a post on X the US Embassy explained that the soldiers were all from the 1st Brigade Army Soldiers are currently missing in Lithuania in a training area near Pabradė "Search and recovery efforts are underway were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident." the V Corps commanding general praised Lithuania for their speedy response to the situation "I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations," he said "It’s this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders." The four soldiers and a vehicle were first reported missing on Tuesday (25 March), according to Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT, as per The Independent Topics: US News, World News, Army Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part) but still finds time for a serious documentary a report was received about four US soldiers and one tracked vehicle missing during a training exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training area in Pabradė as well as helicopters of the Air Force and the State Border Guard Service were deployed to search for the missing on the same day The searchers have located the possible site of the incident and the search and rescue operation continues with additional resources from the Fire and Rescue Department and other institutions it is believed that the four US servicemen may have been killed TV3.lt and lrytas.lt report that the four soldiers are dead and the tracked vehicle has been found in a swamp that official sources have not yet confirmed this Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė’s office announced on Wednesday evening that she is going to the Pabradė training ground “The Minister is going to the training ground to inspect the search and rescue work and to express her solidarity with the Americans,” Defence Ministry spokesman Ignas Grinevičius told BNS US Army Europe and Africa has also confirmed that four American soldiers are missing were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident “I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” Lt “It’s this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders.” the Police Department said that Vilnius officials were informed at 19:20 that three soldiers and a vehicle went missing after a training exercise at the Pabradė training ground in the District of Švenčionys in eastern Lithuania a spokesman for the Lithuanian Armed Forces told BNS that the missing persons were foreigners and did not comment further on the situation: “I can only say that they are foreign soldiers.” The chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence told LRT RADIO that he was aware of the disappearance but did not provide any further information “There is a request from the military and the forces that were conducting the drills to exercise discretion at this time and not to make any comments let’s allow all the procedures to do their work The police and all the elements that have to be involved are involved these investigations are involved,” the politician told LRT RADIO Rescue teams on Monday, the 31st of March, recovered a sunken military vehicle from a swamp in Lithuania, carrying four US soldiers who are still missing, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and LRT The M88 Hercules armoured personnel carrier was recovered in the early hours of the morning six days after a rescue operation was launched at the Pabrade military training ground near the Lithuanian border with Belarus Two M88 armoured personnel carriers were used as well as two additional bulldozers,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė told LRT RADIO the armoured vehicle weighed almost 70 tonnes and was stuck in the mud The Lithuanian defence minister said that the fate of the four soldiers was still unclear “We cannot talk about it at the moment because it is firmly agreed that the Americans will be the first to make any announcement,” Šakalienė said on Monday The vehicle went missing on the 25th of March and was found on the 26th of March sunk in a swamp at the Pabrade training ground Polish and US staff and dozens of vehicles — Vaidotas Beniušis (@BeniusisV) March 30, 2025 has more than 1 000 US troops stationed in the country on a rotational basis A statement from the US Army in Europe earlier said the four soldiers were “conducting planned tactical training” at the time of their disappearance Also read: US soldiers missing in Pabrade: deep silt and rising water make search difficult March 25, Tuesday. At 16:45, news broke that a US armoured vehicle disappeared during an exercise in Pabradė officials informed that an operation was underway The four US soldiers aboard the M88 tracked recovery vehicle had been in Lithuania for about two months. (More information about the vehicle and what is used for – here.) March 27, Thursday. Authorities announced that the 60-tonne vehicle was trapped in a swamp there were track marks that led to that area because we didn’t think that the soldiers could have gone there" Lithuanian chief of defence Although its approximate location was found The plan was to pump out the sludge so that divers could dive in and attach hooks for the vehicle to be pulled out "Once the exact location of the vehicle has been found we will it out with similar armoured vehicles," explained the Lithuanian commander of the rescue operation a high-pressure gas pipe running through the area had to be emptied a road was built to the site to allow heavy machinery to access the swamp March 28, Friday. Authorities announced that the visibility was still poor even after the top layer of the swamp had been drained a specialised boat used to dredge rivers in Lithuania was brought onsite "If the divers can enter the water and find the vehicle we will have a result to celebrate in the evening we will do the job again during the night" But there was no news and the teams had to work overnight "The water with silt impurities does not allow us to determine the exact location of the vehicle underwater neither with the help of divers nor with the help of sonars and echo sounders," said Buikus Dirt had collapsed onto the location of the armoured vehicle which required further specialised equipment "I have never seen a vehicle stuck like this in my 24 years of service in the army The difficult thing is that it's not just water and it's not just mud It is also in a very difficult-to-reach area," US Army Colonel Jim Armstrong described the situation In Vilnius, the city's cathedral held a prayer for the missing soldiers the divers managed to reach the vehicle and attach one hook "The divers will continue to work to find a second point and attach a second rope The pull will be more stable and successful," reported Remigijus Baltrėnas from the Lithuanian military the news came that the second rope was attached March 31, Monday. Almost a week later, the authorities announced at 16:30 local time that the operation was complete – the vehicle had been pulled out Over the next couple of days, the names of three deceased soldiers were officially confirmed, with the fourth body being located in the swamp on Tuesday evening "More capabilities continue to flow to the recovery site including recovery dogs and two specialised drone systems – including one equipped with ground-penetrating radar – are being used to assist in the search," the US Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) said in a statement on Tuesday "Our Lithuanian allies continue to dedicate more resources and capabilities to the search and overnight Estonia also joined the efforts," it said Lithuanian military police dogs began work on Monday while Estonia joined the recovery efforts on Tuesday morning Polish military engineers and sappers "are working to clear trees and widen the road to create space to bring in additional pumping equipment to increase and expand drainage efforts in the area" Three of the four US soldiers who went missing at the Pabradė training area were found dead on Monday after their M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle was towed out of a swamp following a nearly week-long search and rescue operation USAREUR-AF said soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division and technical experts from the US Army Corps of Engineers are working at the site An amphibious excavator equipped with rakes has also been deployed the Lithuanian Armed Forces said the American armoured vehicle recovered from a swamp was ready for transport A tribute event will be held outside the US Embassy in Vilnius on Tuesday to honour the American soldiers “They came here to stand shoulder to shoulder with us Their sacrifice is the greatest one a person can make,” the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union said in a statement “We invite all LRU members and every person of good will in Lithuania to join us in a moment of silence and gratitude for the deceased,” the paramilitary organisation said and a sense of gratitude that will live forever in our hearts,” it added the media organisation Laisvės TV has launched a fundraising campaign to support the families of the deceased soldiers US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his condolences for the soldiers who drowned in Lithuania and thanked the country for its efforts to find them Heartbroken to learn about the deaths of our U.S Jeanette and I extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of these selfless service members who contributed to our national and international security a lot has been written about the event in Russia as well surprised this time with both the volume of publications and the content "Usually, Lithuania is mentioned in the Russian media about 300-400 times a day. Over the past 500 hours, this number has increased to almost XNUMX publications. Although the increase is not drastic, it is clearly associated with the incident in which the US Navy SEAL went missing." soldiers" Head of Data Solutions and Analysis at Mediaskopo the analysis also indicates a rather unusual phenomenon Russian propaganda outlets have found opportunities to exploit even the most trivial situations in Lithuania's domestic politics to further construct the Kremlin regime's narrative which forms the foundation of its national security and Lithuania's ties with the United States have long been the subject of information warfare the information published on Tuesday about the four American soldiers who went missing at the Pabradė training ground is "It is important to note that the Russian media is taking a restrained position - it mainly quotes Lithuanian news sources and avoids speculation It seems that at least at the moment the Russian narrative is not to escalate this event probably because the situation is directly related to the USA with which Moscow is not currently seeking a direct conflict in the information space Usually the Russian media likes to ridicule but Russia's position at the moment is not typical," explained V the incident did not cause the same information wave as the one unleashed in the Russian media after Lithuania and Estonia disconnected from the Russian electricity system in February such as Lithuania's disconnection from the BRELL energy network the current information activity is relatively lower Russian media published several times more material and the main narrative was focused on "energy self-destruction" and Lithuania's dependence on the West energy still remains the main target of disinformation and the disappearance of US soldiers is a secondary topic for now," said V despite the fact that the Russian media has so far been relatively restrained regarding the Pabradė training ground disaster the potential for disinformation to grow remains the Head of Data Solutions and Analysis at Mediaskopo notes that various conspiracy theory scenarios are already spreading on social networks.  "One of them is the claim that US soldiers actually died in Ukraine" and their bodies were transferred to Lithuania These versions have not yet received any response in major information channels but in the event of an escalation of the situation they may be "activated" as alternative explanations," said V US media paid the most attention: more cautious communication dominated in Lithuania The disaster at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė was also intensively discussed in the international arena The US media paid the most attention and wrote about the event An analysis conducted by Mediaskopo recorded 1,87 thousand publications about the missing four American soldiers there were 492 such publications in Lithuania Much attention was paid to the event in Germany - it is this country's military brigade that will be deployed in Lithuania "Mediaskopas" found 248 publications in the German press The incident was covered quite widely by media outlets in Greece (131 publications) Turkey (103 publications) and Great Britain (102 publications).  "So, the incident has gained quite a wide international resonance, especially NATO "in the states," said V the head of data solutions and analysis noted that there are certain differences in Lithuania and other NATO countries when it comes to publicly speaking about the incident at the Pabradė training ground follow a cautious line of communication and officially state that the search for soldiers is still underway the international media was dominated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statement about the deaths of soldiers Although NATO later retracted this comment it had already managed to form an information background in which the event was viewed as a tragic incident," said V a report was received about United States (US) soldiers and a tracked vehicle missing during an exercise at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė the military said that a possible location of the incident had been identified and a search and rescue operation was underway with additional resources from the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and other institutions Helicopters from the Air Force and the State Border Guard Service (SBS) have been activated the US military confirmed that an M88 Hercules tracked vehicle submerged in a swamp had been found The US Embassy says the missing are from the 1st Brigade Lithuanian officials insist that all versions regarding the fate of the soldiers are currently being investigated - their bodies have not been found NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the deaths of four US soldiers in Lithuania but his spokeswoman soon clarified this information insisting that the Alliance leader was talking about "news reports that have emerged" but did not confirm the deaths reproduction and distribution are permitted only with the written consent of UAB "Naujosios medijos grupė" kodas: 300781534 Įregistruota LR įmonių registre registro tvarkytojas:Valstybės įmonė Registrų centras lrytas.lt redakcija news@lrytas.lt Pranešimai apie techninius nesklandumus pagalba@lrytas.lt Atsisiųskite mobiliąją lrytas.lt programėlę Belarusian authorities said they had detained a 27-year-old American man in a train that was going from Lithuania according to a report by the Associated press "The VSAT has verified information on the US citizen who was reported to have been detained by Belarusian officers He is not and cannot in any way be related to the events in the Pabradė Training Area," the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) spokesman Giedrius Mišutis is cited as saying in the agency’s press release "Data available to the VSAT show that the person has been in Lithuania legally for the last couple of weeks the officers had contact with him at the border with Russia Belarusian authorities said Monday they have detained an American man who they said illegally traveled into the tightly controlled country in an empty railway car from neighboring Lithuania was found during an inspection of the train in Maladzyechna I don’t think it should in any way damage relations because this is just because there is still hope in theory [that the soldiers are alive] That is why we have to cherish and value our allies in Lithuania,” Skvernelis told reporters at the Seimas on Thursday Exercises and soldiers’ lives are associated with constant risks “This event shows once again how important it is for us to have this strong partnership soldiers who are determined to defend Lithuania have been involved in an unfortunate accident,” the Seimas speaker said chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence also said he did not see any reason for a deterioration in relations between Vilnius and Washington “We have a very strong relationship with the US we will invest in the host country’s infrastructure which is necessary for US troops to operate here The unit that is here is not just training it is increasing its military readiness and that is a key element of why US troops come to other countries,” the MP told reporters a dangerous job [...] and accidents happen,” he added Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė said that as the rescue operation continues all theories about the fate of the missing American soldiers are considered The four soldiers disappeared on Tuesday during an exercise at the Pabrade training ground in the eastern Švenčionys district a possible scene was identified and the M88 Hercules tracked rescue vehicle was found submerged in water Efforts continue to recover it from underneath five metres of mud “The armoured vehicle was pulled ashore at 4.40 am, the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian military police and US investigators continue their work,” defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Monday morning in a post on Facebook. The soldiers were on a training exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in the town of Pabrade when the group and their vehicle were reported missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the US army said. “Until the investigators have more details, we need to stay calm and focused, and keep in mind the sensitivity of the situation and the concerns of the soldiers’ families,” Ms Sakaliene posted on Facebook. She made clear to reporters that the first information about fate of the soldiers will be delivered by the US army. The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting tactical training when they went missing. Hundreds of Lithuanian and US soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrade, which lies just 10 kilometres (six miles) west of the border with Belarus. The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. A large-scale recovery operation got under way but “water, thick mud and soft ground around the site have complicated recovery efforts and have required specialised equipment to drain water from the side and stabilise the ground” in order to pull the 70-tonne vehicle ashore, the army said. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday evening that the four American soldiers were killed the news came out about four American soldiers who were killed in an incident in Lithuania,” Rutte told reporters in Warsaw on Wednesday evening the Lithuanian Armed Forces subsequently said that there was no evidence that the missing soldiers were indeed dead there is no evidence or information confirming the death of the troops A LTU Armed Forces-led rescue operation is intensively ongoing,” the military posted on X on Wednesday evening Four United States soldiers and one tracked vehicle have gone missing during an exercise at a training ground in Lithuania A LTU Armed Forces-led rescue operation is intensively ongoing NATO acting spokeswoman Allison Hart later posted that Rutte misspoke and did not mean to say that the soldiers were confirmed dead On the 4 US soldiers missing in a military exercise in Lithuania, the search is ongoing. We regret any confusion about remarks @SecGenNATO delivered on this today told LRT TV that the search and rescue operation is technically complex She also did not confirm any deaths of soldiers when we have confirmation of one or another outcome we will definitely inform everyone,” the minister said “The equipment and machinery that would be needed are now concentrated [here] which will require heavier equipment and some extra supplies,” said Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaikšnoras He added that it’s unclear how long the operation will take the US military in Europe announced that the M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle used by the four missing US soldiers during a training exercise had been found “The vehicle was discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities. Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies,” the statement said The Lithuanian Armed Forces earlier said that The four soldiers were in an M88 Recovery Vehicle essentially a giant Army tow truck that is designed to rescue disabled tanks from the battlefield according to a US Army official in Europe quoted by the New York Times They had been sent out to bring back another heavy vehicle but may have driven off the road and into a swamp The soldiers appeared to have been trapped inside as the M88 submerged The US military said the missing soldiers were all from 1st Brigade and were conducting scheduled tactical training at the time of the incident