NATO secretary general Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday that four US military soldiers had vanished during a coaching practice close to the border with Belarus after they had disappeared during a coaching training in Lithuania.
The soldiers from Fort Stewart, Georgia, where they were last seen on Tuesday operating an armoured vehicle as part of a military workout near Pabrade, which is located about six miles from the Russian boundary.
This is horrible news, and our thoughts are with these brave men ‘ people and loved ones, Rutte said while visiting Poland’s Warsaw. Facts are still undetermined at this point.
Search and rescue missions
The circumstances surrounding their deaths have not yet been disclosed in an official declaration from the US military. Prior to the dreadful discovery, the Army had formally expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian causes for their support in the search-and-rescue attempts.
Lt. General Charles Costanza, V Corps commanding general, expressed his personal gratitude to the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the first responders who immediately responded to our assistance in a speech. Regardless of the colors we carry on our shoulders,” this collaboration underscores the strength of our relationship.”
According to Ukrainian press, the missing men were apparently traveling in an M88A2 Armored Recovery Vehicle when they vanished on Tuesday, around 7 p.m. local period. Ukrainian soldiers, Nato forces, Lithuanian Air Force helicopters, Lithuanian Army, and the nation’s State Border Guard Service were all involved in a massive search operation that was launched.
Authorities in Lithuania had made a decision on Wednesday as to where the affair was likely to take place. According to Lithuanian military official Major Gintautas Ciunis,” the probable location of the event has been identified, and search and rescue is currently underway.”
Uncertainties surround the tragedy
Military officials in Lithuania have shied away from debate despite the fact that the exact cause of the military ‘ deaths is still unknown. According to Giedrimas Jeglinskas, the head of Lithuania’s National Security and Defense Committee,” For incidents do occur during large-scale martial exercises, although unusual.” Training will be learned, and security procedures may be strengthened, he says.
