Four US soldiers went missing during exercises in Lithuania: What is known

"The possible location of the incident has been identified, search and rescue are underway," said Major of the Lithuanian Army Gintautas Ciunis.

Disappearance of military personnel

According to the Lithuanian Armed Forces, a report about the disappearance of US soldiers and a tracked vehicle at the Pabradė training ground was received on March 25 at 04:45 PM local time.

"Soldiers from the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division were taking part in scheduled tactical exercises during the incident," the Lithuanian Armed Forces said.

It is reported that yesterday, Lithuanian and foreign military personnel, as well as helicopters from the Air Force and the State Border Guard Service, were involved in the search.

The search and rescue operation, led by the Lithuanian army, is ongoing. Additional forces from the Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies have been deployed.

The US Army Europe Command has confirmed that the search for the missing personnel near the Pabradė training ground is continuing. According to the press release, US and Lithuanian military personnel are taking part in the search operation.

Military exercises in Lithuania

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported on the largest military exercises in Lithuania's history. These were the international Baltic Operations 2024 (BALTOPS) exercises, which took place in Lithuania from June 4 to June 21 of last year.

"These are the largest exercises we have ever conducted," said Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

BALTOPS 2024 involved up to 10,000 military personnel and public servants. The exercises were aimed at preparing the armed forces of various countries and strengthening military response to ensure freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea.