Grim replace in hunt for lacking US troopers as their armoured automobile is hauled out of swamp six days after they disappeared throughout warfare video games in Lithuania
A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been hauled out of a swamp after a six-day search, but officials say there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board.
The soldiers and their vehicle went missing early last Tuesday morning at the Pabrade training ground near the border with Belarus, the US Army said.
A large search and rescue operation was launched after their disappearance was reported. Their vehicle was located Wednesday at more than 5 metres depth.
Rescuers have now recovered the armoured vehicle from the peat bog where it sunk last week, Lithuanian officials confirmed today.
‘The armoured vehicle was pulled ashore at 4.40am, the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work,’ Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said Monday morning in a post on Facebook.
‘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.’
Sakaliene made clear to reporters that the first information about fate of the soldiers will be delivered by the Army.
The soldiers, whose identities have not been released, were all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. They were conducting tactical training when they went missing.
A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been hauled out of a swamp after a six-day search, officials said today. Pictured are emergency services, US Army and Lithuanian Army soldiers building a makeshift dam from HESCO barrier bags during recovery efforts near Pabadre, Lithuania on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Despite the discovery of the vehicle, officials say there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board. Pictured are soldiers and emergency crews on Thursday, March 27, 2025 discussing their plan to recover the missing US Army M88 Hercules from the swamp near Pabadre where it was submerged under more than 5 meters of water
A large search and rescue operation was launched after the four soldiers went missing early on Tuesday during unit training at the massive General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground. Pictured are rescue operations underway at the training ground on Friday, March 28, 2025
The four soldiers went missing early on Tuesday when they were on a mission to recover another Army vehicle during unit training at the massive General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground.
Hundreds of Lithuanian and American soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrade.
The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water.
A large-scale recovery operation got underway 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-ton vehicle ashore, the army said.
The defence ministry said Lithuanian military police and US investigators are still at work at the site today.
‘We will remain patient and focused as they gather more information about the situation,’ it said on social media platform X.
The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. Pictured are officials building a makeshift dam from HESCO barrier bags as they try to recover the submerged US Army M88 Hercules from a swamp near the military training area in Pabadre, Lithuania on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Soldiers and and emergency services personnel work the scene where an US Army M88 Hercules was submerged under several meters of water in a swamp on March 27, 2025
Cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel were brought in to help drain the water, dig out the mud and pull the M88 Hercules out of the swamp. Soldiers and emergency services personnel are pictured assembling a water pump during recovery efforts for four missing soldiers on March 27, 2025
US Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, watch as an excavator builds a dam during recovery efforts on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel were brought in to help drain the water, dig out the mud and pull the M88 Hercules out of the swamp, the US Army Europe and Africa said Friday.
They also warned that this will be a long operation.
A US Navy dive crew is being brought in, and the Polish Armed Forces have volunteered to send engineers, additional equipment and 150 personnel to also assist.
‘This will be a long and difficult recovery operation, but we are absolutely committed to bringing our soldiers home,’ said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of 1st Armoured Division said Friday.
‘I remain incredibly impressed by the discipline, commitment and comradery in this unit as they attempt to recover their missing comrades.’
The US military has been performing joint-training exercises with Lithuanian forces amid rising tensions between Baltic nations and Russia.
Lithuania, along with neighbors Latvia and Estonia, have often had tense ties with Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. All are members of NATO.
US soldiers and German soldier, center, pray as they attend a Holy Mass for the four American soldiers who went missing during exercises conducted by the United States at the Pabrade training ground, at the Cathedral Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, March 30, 2025
US Army Europe and Africa on Friday warned that this will be a long operation. Pictured are crews carrying out rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground on Friday, March 28, 2025
Rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as the search for four missing US soldiers continued in Pabrade, Lithuania on March 28, 2025
A US Navy dive crew is being brought in, and the Polish Armed Forces have volunteered to send engineers, additional equipment and 150 personnel to also assist. Pictured are rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as the search for four missing US soldiers continued in Pabrade on March 28, 2025
Relations in the region worsened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been one of the most vocal European leaders supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s forces.
In a press release issued before the soldiers were reported missing, Lt. Gen Charles Costanza said he ‘would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.’
‘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,’ Costanza added.
