Four American soldiers are found dead after going missing during a joint military training exercise near Pabradė, Lithuania, close to the Belarusian border. The soldiers, members of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, were operating an M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle when they disappeared on Tuesday.
Military officials confirm that the vehicle was later located submerged in a remote peat bog within the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area, a large NATO training zone used regularly for multinational drills. The soldiers were participating in ongoing exercises with Lithuanian forces, part of broader NATO readiness efforts amid elevated tensions with Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Rescue operations are launched immediately following the soldiers’ disappearance, with U.S. and Lithuanian forces using helicopters, drones, and specialized equipment to comb the swampy, difficult terrain. It takes days to drain and access the area where the vehicle is eventually recovered.
The soldiers are found deceased inside the submerged M88 vehicle. Authorities say the terrain and soft peat conditions likely contributed to the vehicle’s inability to escape after becoming trapped. No signs of foul play are reported, and an investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of the incident.
The U.S. Army notifies the soldiers’ families and offers support services. The Department of Defense withholds their names pending official identification and notification of next of kin.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte initially states that the soldiers had been confirmed dead, though the alliance later clarifies that the situation remains under investigation at that point in time. Lithuanian officials describe the incident as a tragic accident and extend condolences to the families and the American military community.
The Pabradė Training Area is situated less than six miles from the Belarusian border and plays a key role in NATO’s deterrence operations in Eastern Europe. The exercise in which the soldiers were participating is part of an annual series of multinational drills designed to increase combat readiness, particularly in light of growing security concerns across the Baltic region.
This is the deadliest training-related incident involving U.S. forces in Lithuania in recent history. Military officials stress the importance of safety reviews and promise full cooperation with ongoing inquiries.
Sources:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/four-missing-us-soldiers-found-dead-in-lithuania-0fkgs7gtj
https://apnews.com/article/c89957fc6a62da8624202095920630e1
https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2522536/missing-us-troops-in-pabrade-mod-reports-progress-in-recovering-vehicle-from-swamp
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/26/soldiers-missing-lithuania
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/rescuers-dig-missing-us-soldiers-vehicle-lithuania-2025-03-27/
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/26/europe/us-army-soldiers-lithuania-intl-latam/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-army-soldiers-missing-lithuania-near-border-belarus/
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/03/26/4-us-soldiers-missing-from-training-area-in-lithuania/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabrad%C4%97_Training_Area
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Saber_Strike
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NATO_exercises
https://youtu.be/Gf3CpYJqKGs
