American soldiers missing in Lithuania: Rescue efforts continue
The fate of the American soldiers missing during exercises near Pabradė in Lithuania remains uncertain. Rescue teams have yet to reach the vehicle's interior, which ended up at least 16 feet beneath the mud. Military experts suggest that if the crew had been inside, only a miracle could have saved them.
The M88 is a 69-ton vehicle designed for evacuating tanks and other heavy equipment from the battlefield during combat, developed from the M60 tank. Four American soldiers, currently missing, may have been inside it for nearly two days. On Tuesday, the military vehicle got stuck in the soft terrain, sinking at least 16 feet into the mud and water. The ongoing rescue operation is facing exceptionally difficult conditions, and the chances of finding the soldiers alive are minimal.
Military expert Major (res.) Darius Antanaitis told the Lithuanian portal Delfi that if the vehicle was submerged and the soldiers didn’t manage to escape right away, their chances of survival would be extremely slim. He explained that being stuck in mud and water inside a sealed vehicle leaves almost no opportunity for rescue.
The Lithuanian expert pointed out that a single person uses between 6 and 8 liters of oxygen per minute. Given the limited space inside the vehicle and the fact that it isn’t designed like a submarine, the chances of survival are minimal. Nonetheless, he stressed that there’s always room to hope for a miracle in any such situation. He also mentioned that the absence of immediate contact with the crew further lowers the likelihood of a successful rescue.
Accident or service actions?
The incident appears to be a tragic accident on the training ground. It's too early to propose sensational theories, as there's no evidence. With many extensive exercises underway, the risk of a tragic accident, shooting incident, or heavy equipment mishap simply exists; it is an inherent risk in the profession of a soldier, said Dr. Maciej Milczanowski, a former soldier and participant in UN missions, from the Institute of Political Science at the University of Rzeszów.
This comment was in response to suggestions that the disappearance of American soldiers occurred amidst heightened tensions between NATO and Russia. Lithuania, a key member of the Alliance on the eastern flank, regularly reports potential provocations by Russian services. The training ground is near the Belarus border.
On Thursday morning, Defense Minister Dovile Šakaliene reported that the water level at the site had been sufficiently reduced to start excavation efforts. She also emphasized that it's still uncertain whether the soldiers are inside the vehicle, adding that all potential scenarios remain under consideration until they are located.
Disappearance of american soldiers in lithuania – what is known so far?
According to a statement by the Lithuanian army, at 10:45 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday, command received a report that four American soldiers, along with a tracked vehicle, went missing during exercises near Pabradė.
The military vehicle became stuck in the soft terrain and was fully submerged in the water and mud while carrying four American soldiers. The search and rescue operation continues, but progress is slow due to the challenging terrain conditions.
Lithuanian MP Dovilė Sakaliene, who visited the site, confirmed that the area resembles extensive wetlands. The vehicle was mired in the mud, significantly hindering the rescue operation.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense has noted that the rescue operation is proceeding in cooperation with American military services. So far, contact with the vehicle's crew has not been established. Intense efforts are ongoing to recover the submerged vehicle, while searches for the missing soldiers around the training ground continue.
