The Polish military has formed a specialized unit to support the Lithuanian Army and the U.S. Army in the ongoing recovery operation for four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania, early Tuesday.
The soldiers, stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia, were aboard an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle on a scheduled maintenance mission to retrieve another U.S. Army vehicle when they lost contact, as confirmed by U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Hundreds of U.S. and Lithuanian soldiers, along with law enforcement, military helicopters, and dive teams, have been engaged in the initial search efforts through the dense forests and swampy terrain.
Despite these efforts, the soldiers remain unaccounted for, and the M88 Hercules was discovered submerged in a body of water within the training area, located near a highly pressurized gas pipeline close to Pabradė, a town situated north of the capital, Vilnius.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė expressed that the moment the incident was reported, the country mobilized all available resources from its armed forces and internal affairs ministry to locate the missing soldiers.
“From helicopters equipped with thermal imaging to ground forces, we continue our search efforts intensively,” Šakalienė stated.
According to U.S. Army Europe and Africa public affairs, the challenging conditions of water, thick mud, and soft ground surrounding the site have complicated recovery operations, necessitating specialized equipment to manage water drainage and stabilize the area.
Polish officials confirmed that they are dispatching troops equipped with engineering gear to assist in the recovery.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials reported that land dredging equipment was en route, and a dam was being fortified to contain the mud pumping area.
The pressurized gas has been safely removed, allowing work to proceed at the site, as noted by Šakalienė.
The internal water waste agency has arranged to deliver a water master dredger along with over 900 feet of bulk pipe by Friday morning, with expected arrival by midday. The installation of the pipeline and dredgers will take several hours before operations can commence.
“The dredger pump typically removes 80% of water while managing 20% of mud or sludge. Our aim is to start operations with the pump by evening, allowing divers and the hydrographic team to assess the vehicle’s position Saturday morning, as we are still uncertain if it has overturned or its current orientation,” Šakalienė explained.
A diver will secure cables, and workers will utilize pulleys to bring the vehicle to the surface.
“Only then will we be able to verify if the missing soldiers are inside,” she added.
Šakalienė emphasized that it remains unclear whether the soldiers managed to escape the vehicle before it sank, but assured there was “no evidence” indicating the deaths of the missing soldiers as of Thursday afternoon.
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The area surrounding the incident is characterized by forest and swamp environments reminiscent of Alaska. The similar weather conditions further complicate the training area for Army personnel.
“They might be lost, confused, injured, or suffering from hypothermia, and we have yet to locate them,” Šakalienė remarked. “However, we will not lose hope until the very end. These are resilient soldiers, strong men. All scenarios remain possible.”
She also highlighted that Lithuania, a member of NATO, considers American soldiers as their own and will not abandon them.
“We are collaborating with them. We share a bond with them, and our entire society is heartbroken as we observe every moment of this rescue mission,” Šakalienė noted. “As a mother of a 24-year-old son, it’s difficult for me to fathom what their families are enduring. I assure you, we will exert every effort to locate them and uncover the truth as swiftly as possible.”
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Deputy Prime Minister of Poland Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz confirmed via social media that a task force comprising several dozen Polish soldiers, equipped with heavy machinery and frogmen, was “urgently” dispatched to Lithuania for assistance.
“We are responding to a request from our allies #StrongerTogether,” Kosiniak-Kamysz stated in the post.
This NATO member nation is reportedly concerned that discussions between Russia and Ukraine may lead to an agreement that could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin in the region.
Lithuanian officials are in communication with U.S. Ambassador Kara C. McDonald and U.S. Army personnel.
“We are utilizing every available U.S. and Lithuanian resource to coordinate and facilitate the necessary support for this operation,” stated U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commanding general of the 1st Armored Division.
The rescue mission has now transitioned into “search and recovery efforts,” according to a statement from U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
“We deeply appreciate the unwavering and skilled efforts of our Lithuanian allies in guaranteeing the safety of U.S. personnel,” Taylor remarked. “They have tirelessly partnered with us over the past 48 hours, and we remain thankful for their support.”
The U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division is keeping the families of the soldiers updated throughout the search process.
“This tragic situation weighs heavily on all of us, and we are keeping the families, friends, and teammates of our soldiers and recovery team in our thoughts and prayers,” Taylor stated. “We want everyone to understand that we will not cease our efforts until our soldiers are found.”
President Donald Trump mentioned to reporters Wednesday that he had not received a briefing regarding the missing soldiers.
The training site is located less than 6 miles from Belarus, a close ally of Russia since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Lithuania, a predominantly Catholic nation, plans to organize a joint prayer service at its main cathedral on Sunday and conduct a mass for the missing soldiers.
The White House and Fort Stewart have not yet responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
