Tank sunk in mud in Lithuania recovered: But where are the soldiers?

By Alexander Welscher

Vilnius (Lithuania) - After days of effort, rescue workers in Lithuania have succeeded in recovering the military vehicle of four missing soldiers that had sunk several meters into the mud.

The tank has been recovered, but the search for the four missing soldiers continues.
The tank has been recovered, but the search for the four missing soldiers continues.  © Trevor Wilson/U.S. Army/AP/dpa

According to Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene (46), the tank weighing almost 70 tons was lifted out of a swampy body of water at the military training area in Pabrade on Monday night with the help of armoured recovery vehicles and other heavy equipment.

Lithuania's army chief Raimundas Vaiksnoras (54) also confirmed the completion of the recovery of the US Army's M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle. It initially remained unclear whether the missing soldiers were in the vehicle. The four US soldiers have been missing since last Tuesday. They could no longer be found after an exercise during which, according to the US, they were carrying out planned tactical training.

The Lithuanian military and police then launched a joint search operation with the US military.

This ultimately led to their tank being located in a body of water on the training ground.

Pabrade is located on NATO's eastern flank not far from the border with Belarus.