Lithuania. American Hercules armored car in the swamp. The bodies of three soldiers found, are looking for the fourth

In Lithuania, the bodies of three American soldiers were found who participated in the accident at the training ground in Podbrodzie. Raimundas Vaicysznora, the chief commander of the Lithuanian armed forces, reported that the fourth military search was ongoing. – Water sonars are used, a drone with scanning equipment is used – he pointed out. Earlier on Monday, armored Hercules was pulled out of the swamp – a vehicle that soldiers from the USA were moving.

The US Army Command in Europe and Africa (USareur-AF) announced on Monday that the bodies of three soldiers were found. It was reported that they were in a military armored transporter pulled out of the swamp on Monday in the morning. The searches for the fourth military are ongoing.

Raimundas Vaicysznora, the chief commander of the Lithuanian armed forces, later reported that “divers continue to search for all signs that could indicate (location of the fourth body – editor's note) of the soldier.” – Water sonars are used, (…) a drone with scanning equipment is used – he told journalists. He noted that “these works will be carried out all night”.

“Perhaps the strength of water and mud at the influence of pressure threw the soldier out of the machine,” said the Chief of Defense Staff. He noted that at the current stage of the search are much more difficult, because “it is more difficult to find a person in the swamp than military equipment.”

“Preparatory proceedings were initiated to determine the cause of death”

The Minister of Defense of Lithuania Dovile Szakaliene presented on the Public Radio LRT details of pulling Hercules from the armored swamp – a vehicle from which soldiers from the US moved. – At 4.30 am, the operation of pulling the vehicle was completed. Two M88 armored personnel carriers and two bulldoys for anchor were used – she described this stage of the action.

The American M88 Hercules was about four meters below the surface of the water and under a two -meter layer of mud.

She pointed out that such an armored car weighs almost 70 tons, and the swamp in which he sank increased its weight several times. The Lithuanian military gendarmerie and American investigators work at the scene.

The Prosecutor General of Lithuania Nida Grunskiene told journalists that “preparatory proceedings were initiated to determine the cause of death (military – ed.)”. She added that “the prosecutor went to the scene, and the investigation is conducted by the Prosecutor's Office.”

“We hoped for a miracle until the last moment”

The President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda informed about finding three bodies and searching for the fourth soldier on Monday after 4pm. “Until the last moment we hoped for a miracle. With deep sadness and regret I accepted the news of the death of American soldiers who died during exercise. Their death is a devastating blow not only for our American friends, but also for the Lithuanian armed forces” – said Nauseda, quoted in the announcement of his office.

“The forces of the United States and Lithuania, supported by our Polish allies, worked during the day and night during this complicated search and rescue operation to find the soldiers sought after as soon as possible. The Lithuanian nation was constantly praying for them because we consider American soldiers to be ours” – said the president.

The president gave sincere condolences to US President Donald Trump, families, friends and companions of fallen soldiers and the American nation. He emphasized that the search and rescue operation would be continued until the fourth American lost soldier was found during exercise.

Nauseda pointed out that “this disaster that consumed the lives of the soldiers shook us all.”

The president expressed appreciation for the invaluable contribution of the United States to the security of Lithuania and the entire eastern wing of NATO. “The presence of the United States armed forces in our region is a guarantee of the security of not only Lithuania, but also the entire transatlantic community. We try to provide the allied forces with the best and most appropriate conditions for training and strengthening their ability” – said the Lithuanian leader.

Nauseda thanked everyone who contributed to the search and rescue operation, and expressed hope for finding the fourth wanted soldier as soon as possible.

Missing American soldiers

Four American soldiers were lost on March 25 during exercises at the training ground in Podbrade (Pabrade), about 15-20 km away from the Lithuanian border with Belarus. Lithuanian and foreign military were sent to the search and rescue operation, as well as the helicopters of the Air Force and the State Border Guard of Lithuania. Rescuers from Poland also joined the campaign.