In phone interviews, both families shared similar accounts. in which the men contacted them on June 8th to say they would be unavailable during the multi-day mission. According to them, nothing has been heard of either since then.
Druke mother Lois, said she got a phone call Monday from another US citizen who indicated that he was in Ukraine with her son. The caller, who she did not name, told her that intercepted communications suggested that Russian forces had detained two Americans, she said.
The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request. for comment.
Alexander Druke said family that he trained Ukrainian troops how to use American-made weapon, his mother said.
“Alex felt very strongly that he was taught in the ways he could help Ukrainians stand strong and crush Putin back,” she is addedreferring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “He left over there is no time for fighting and training.”
Joy Black, who introduced herself as Hun’s fiancée, said he volunteered fight along with Ukrainian troops. She got a phone call Monday also from someone who looks like an american who told her that Huyin was missing.
“The response we received from our government was very helpful,” Black said. “They take it very seriously. We got call on Monday morning and it just passed up so high, so fast.”
News of the disappearance of the Americans first This was reported by The Telegraph on Wednesday. of London. The State Department said the Biden administration, which discouraged Americans from joining hostilities, was “informed of unconfirmed messages of two US citizens captured in Ukraine”, but declined to comment farther.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and in contact with Ukrainian authorities,” the message says. ” … We also once again repeat US citizens should do not travel to Ukraine because of active armed conflict and separation out of US citizens in Ukraine in Russian government safety official”.
Speaking to media On Wednesday afternoon, White House spokesman John Kirby said he had no information to share about missing Americans or the USA government believes they were taken prisoner.
The situation creates another complex scenario for United States in his diplomacy with Russia. Kremlin Detains Other Americans for months or years including WNBA star Britney Griner and the Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan. Another American held by Russia, Marine Corps veteran Trevor Reed was set free in prisoner exchange in April.
Dont clear how many Americans joined war. Shortly after the start of the conflict in In late February, Ukrainian officials said about 4,000 people showed interest in doing so.
Least one US Citizen, Marine Corps veteran 22-year-old Willy Joseph Kansel died. in action.
Druke served two tours in Iraq with US Army, leaving around 2010 as a master sergeant, he mother said. He fought with post-traumatic stress after leaving military but seemed to find a purpose in in mission in Ukraine, she added.
Huyin served in Marine Corps for several years, including on japanese island of Okinawa, his fiancee said.
The Washington Post was unable to immediately verify the identity of any of the men. military service histories.
Lois Druke said that she last spoke with her son by phone on June 5th and then received a message three days later on Signal encrypted communications platform. His message said he was “going into the dark” and unavailable. for a few days and what will it be in contact again after completing appointment.
Alice Krites and Missy Ryan contributed to this report.
