At the Lithuanian training ground in Podbrodzie, the search for the fourth lost American soldier is underway. On Monday, it was informed about the extraction of a military armored personnel transporter, in which there were bodies of the other three military. The vehicle was covered with a two -meter layer of mud, it was found about four meters below the surface of the water.
The soldiers disappeared on March 25 during exercises at a training ground about 15 km from the border of Lithuania with Belarus. Their search was extensive on a large scale, Lithuanian and foreign military were directed to them, including Polish. Air Force and State Border Guard helicopters were also used.
Lithuania: Soldiers' accident. The expert indicates possible scenarios
At 4:30 On Monday, the M88 Hercules technical security cart, which they moved, was pulled out of the mud. How did the tragedy occur and who is responsible for it?
– The official results of the investigation will be transferred by the American side, while they are not, we can only speculate. NATO is a military alliance, which is at the highest level, and the American army is the best army of the world, but in it there may be a tragedy – admits Dr Katarzyna Maniszewska from Collegium Civitas and the University of Bialystok, terrorist expert.
The expert emphasizes that at this stage we can only speculate. Sees, however several possible scenarios.
– I think in this case The human factor failed. Unfortunately, in various security systems, the human factor is very often the weakest link – says Dr. Maniszewska.
Lithuanian media reports that the soldiers did not receive the appropriate maps on which the peat bog would be marked.
Dr. Maniszewska admits that at this stage we do not know what exactly happened. – there are several possibilities, Perhaps the soldiers were delivered inappropriate maps, they used them badly, maybe they were looking for some way to take a shortcut? These are speculation, but it seems that it is not the technological side that has failed, but man – he says.
Tragedy in Lithuania. “Lesson for the future”
According to Dr. Maniszewska, the procedures in force during the exercises that took place in Lithuania should now be checked.
– Singing algorithms in cases of this kind must be clear and known to the soldiers and their commanders participating in the exercises. This is probably missing here. The control and monitoring system should be optimized, To get lessons for the future from this tragedy – he says in an interview with Interia.
At the Lithuanian training ground, the last of the last of the missing military people is still underway.
– Searching for the fourth soldier is large -scale. The search action is very difficult, because the area is extremely difficult. Presumably, if it wasn't for this swamp ground, which turned out to be a deadly trap, it would not be the whole tragedy – notes Dr. Maniszewska.
Donald Trump indicates the possible cause of the tragedy
At a meeting with journalists in the Oval Office prezydent Donald Trump He suggested what could have caused the tragedy.
“It looks like the lake shore has sneaked,” he said. Trump added that the vehicle traveled by soldiers is very heavy. – If he slipped a bit, it probably happened and fell over – said the American president.
– We hoped for a miracle until the last moment. With deep sadness and regret I received 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 – he said President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda in an official announcement.
He also made condolences to US President Donald Trump, families, friends and companions of fallen soldiers and the American nation.
The president emphasized that The presence of the United States armed forces in the region is a guarantee of security Not only Lithuania, but also the entire transatlantic community.