US State Dept issues first response on two Americans captured by Russian troops in Ukraine

As inving Russian soldiers captured two former US military personnel fighting on behalf of ‘International Legion’ of Territorial Defense of Ukraine, a US State Department official told reporters that y are "aware" two Americans have been captured by Moscow’s forces. A spokesperson for department, however, declined to make furr comments on subject. 

Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, who served as a US Marine, and Alexander Drueke, a former US Army personnel who was deployed in Iraq, were volunteering with a unit of foreign fighters in Ukrainian Army when y mysteriously disappeared. Drueke hails from Tuscaloosa, in Alabama, and h first enlisted with US Army after 9/11, and was later deployed in Iraq as a staff sergeant. Huynh, born to Vietnamese parents, hailed from California and lived in Alabama's Tennessee Valley. He served four years in US Marines but lacked combat experience. 

Russia’s military, in an update on Telegram messaging app, said that two American fighters, who got separated from ir cohort and disappeared after destroying a Russian tank, were captured by its soldiers as prisoners of war. 

(Im: @Alexander J. Drueke/Facebook)

"Z group have scored some success in Kharkiv destination for last two days. We have taken host 10-20 Ukrainian soldiers and also today two American mercenaries," telegram post by Russian military re.

duo became first US servicemen to end up as Russian prisoners of war and have joined three Britons - Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Andrew Hill - who were sentenced to death by a court in a pro-Russian breakaway state of Donetsk People's Republic. 

capture of ex-American military personnel is being deemed as a sensitive turn in course of war as Kremlin might use it as evidence that US has become “directly involved” in ongoing conflict. Russian President Vlimir Putin may put challenging concessions on table in exchange for ir release to US government. two US fighters were captured less than 5 miles from Russia’s border in vill of Izbytske, 30 miles rth-east of Kharkiv.

“We are aware of unconfirmed reports of two US citizens captured in Ukraine,” a US State Department spokesperson told reporters at a conference. “We are closely monitoring situation and are in contact with Ukrainian authorities,” spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anymity, stressed.

US Secy Blinken's team refuses to divulge details citing ‘privacy’ grounds

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s team declined to elaborate on details of response citing ‘privacy’ grounds. “B intel” reportedly led ex-US Army personnel to believe that area was secure while Russian troops were alrey camoufld in region, assaulting area. International Legion unit with two American h set up defensive positions, laying an anti-tank mine in ro for vancing Russian T72s. Drueke and Huynh were manning RPG7 rocket-propelled grene launcher to counter Russian troops. 

"We were out on a mission and whole thing went absolutely crazy, with b intel. We were told town was clear when it turned out Russians were alrey assaulting it. y came down ro with two T72 tanks and multiple BMP3s [armored fighting vehicles] and about 100 infantry. only thing that was re was our ten man squ," a soldier from unit who did t disclose his identity for security purposes told Telegraph. While scene was engulfed in smoke and thick fog, after it cleared, ir American comres, who joined fight in April, went missing. 

"Everybody h taken cover waiting for one of Russian tanks to hit anti-tank mine, but Alex and Andy saw a BMP3 coming from ar direction through woods and realised that it would kill most of us. y opened fire and took it out with ir first shot,” soldiers from unit, who did t provide ir identity, narrated. 

One of Russian T72 tanks fired in direction of two American fighters, and while shell missed m, a blast enveloped area in smoke. two Americans were missing, and it was later found that y were taken prisoner by Russian infantry soldiers, unit’s soldiers said. "It was all very chaotic, but we suspect that y were kcked unconscious by eir blast from tank shooting at m or from anti-tank mine blowing up, because later search missions found t a sign of m,” one of soldiers explained. Ukraine’s Army sent drones for search and rescue operation and a team was dispatched on ground but found “thing.” 

US State Dept 'doing everything y can'

Drueke’s mor, who contacted US government to secure her son's release, told paper that US Embassy assured her that y “are doing everything y can to find her son.” “y [US State Department] are searching for him alive, t de,” she said. "I am doing my best t to fall apart, I am going to stay strong. I am very hopeful that y will keep him to exchange for Russian PoWs,” captured American’s mor iterated. 

“We are t mercenaries, or part of some militia. We are serving under command of Ukrainian armed forces. I am speaking out on my missing comres' behalf because I want it in public domain that y are missing, so that Russian high command is me aware too,” ar soldier from International Legion told paper. 

While Russia’s military labels captured foreign fighters as ‘mercenaries’ US government denies that Americans were hired in Ukraine as mercenaries or recruited while still in US.

Secretary of State Blinken h also earlier discourd American citizens from joining Ukraine in war, saying that it would risk American fighters to be treated as mercenaries if captured by Russian soldiers; and refore y will t be protected by international rules for prisoners of war. As Russia inved Ukraine on February 24, Ukrainian Embassy in US tified that over 3,000 US citizens reached out to be enlisted in Ukraine’s Army.