Risto Kotkas

Risto Kotkas is a 34-year-old Estonian police dog handler, recognized for his expertise in search and rescue operations, particularly in locating missing persons. Recently, he participated in a challenging operation at the Pabradės military training area in Lithuania, where he and his specially trained dog, Mike, were called upon to assist in the search for a missing U.S. soldier. This marked his first international mission, contributing to a significant operation that drew considerable public attention. Kotkas highlighted the unique challenges of searching in marshy areas and expressed the emotional impact of successfully locating the remains of the missing soldiers.