By Radio Free Ukraine Staff Report
March 26, 2025
PABRADĖ, LITHUANIA — A joint U.S.-Lithuanian search and rescue operation is underway following the disappearance of four U.S. soldiers during a training exercise in eastern Lithuania near the border with Belarus. The incident occurred on Monday, March 25, at approximately 4:45 p.m. local time, when a tracked military vehicle carrying the soldiers was reported missing at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.
Initial reports suggested the soldiers may have been traveling in an M88 armored recovery vehicle, one of the largest tracked support vehicles in the U.S. military inventory. Unconfirmed sources indicate the vehicle may have veered off-course or suffered a mechanical failure during the exercise.
The soldiers are members of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, which is currently deployed to Lithuania as part of NATO’s rotational presence aimed at deterring Russian aggression in the region. The U.S. Army confirmed the soldiers were engaged in “scheduled tactical training” when contact was lost.
The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius released a brief statement confirming that four soldiers are currently unaccounted for but has not verified reports of fatalities. The statement noted that “a joint search effort is underway with Lithuanian authorities” and that updates would be provided as information becomes available.
According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the possible location of the missing vehicle has been identified, and a full-scale search and rescue operation is ongoing. The effort involves military ground units, helicopters from the Lithuanian Air Force and State Border Guard Service, and support from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department.
In a public statement, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said: “Currently, the possible location of the incident has been identified and a search and rescue operation is underway, led by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, with additional capabilities from the Fire Protection and Rescue Department and other institutions.”V Corps Commanding General Charles Costanza praised the response from Lithuanian counterparts, emphasizing the strength of U.S.-Lithuanian military cooperation.
“We are deeply grateful to our Lithuanian allies for their swift and coordinated efforts to locate our soldiers,” he said.
The search area lies roughly 10 miles from the Belarusian border, raising concerns about proximity to a region of heightened strategic tension. However, no foul play is suspected at this stage, and military sources are treating the incident as a training-related mishap pending further investigation.
SOURCES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Associated Press: “4 American soldiers are missing from a training area near Lithuania’s capital, the US military says”Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: “Four US Soldiers Missing in Lithuania After Training Exercise Near Belarus”
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