Fabrice Debersaques, commander of the Brasschaat Artillery Battalion, yesterday paid tribute to Danfo Van der Velden (22), the young Belgian soldier who succumbed to his injuries sustained during a military exercise in Lithuania on Friday.
Belgian soldier dies after being seriously injured during mortar gun exercise in Lithuania
Colin Clapson
Published:
Details about the exact circumstances of the accident and its cause could not yet be provided. The investigation is still ongoing. A team of specialists has been sent to the scene.
The Belgian soldier was seriously injured during a mortar gun exercise in Lithuania and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, according to the Belgian Ministry of Defence.
The soldier had first received first aid at the scene and was then transferred to a civilian hospital.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances of the incident. Further analysis should provide more clarity, according to Belgian defence minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist N-VA) and chief of defence Frederik Vansina.
Belgian units have been deployed in Lithuania for several months now as part of the NATO detachment “Forward Land Forces Lithuania”. The mission is part of the defence of NATO's eastern flank. The deployment is scheduled to run until the end of January.
Since the war in Ukraine and the increased Russian threat, NATO has increased its military presence in Eastern Europe.