Lithuanian leaders on Wednesday expressed condolences over the death of a 22-year-old Belgian soldier who was fatally injured during live-fire training at the Pabradė training area, emphasising that the country must do everything possible to ensure the safety of all forces serving in Lithuania.
“Deep condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the entire Belgian nation,” President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters after leaving a funeral home in Vilnius. “It is very sad when a young life ends in such circumstances. But this is the price our allies are prepared to pay. Our task is to ensure that such accidents and fatalities are reduced as much as possible.”
Nausėda said military service is inherently risky and difficult but “deeply meaningful”, noting that the Belgian soldier had been ready to help guarantee the security of an allied country.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Lithuania must do everything it can to protect every service member.
“Every life is invaluable. Every person who loses their life in such circumstances represents one of the most painful experiences – a pointless loss,” she said. “We had a similar situation in the spring, and now again. We must do everything to protect every soldier, whether foreign or Lithuanian.”
A farewell ceremony for the soldier began Wednesday morning in Vilnius. The funeral procession is scheduled to continue to Kaunas International Airport later in the day.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said Tuesday that both Belgian and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the incident. Ruginienė said the investigation will focus on the circumstances of the shooting and broader safety issues.
“Accidents do happen. We need to review what more we can do to improve the safety of our troops and take those steps,” she said, adding that such processes “usually take time” but that every life is of “extraordinary value”.
The Belgian soldier was fatally injured during shooting exercises at the Pabradė training area in Švenčionys District. Medics fought for nearly 24 hours to save his life over the weekend but were unsuccessful.
In a separate incident in the spring, an American M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle with four US soldiers went missing during training at the same site. After five days, the vehicle and the bodies of the four soldiers were found about five metres deep in a swampy area.
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