American fighters reportedly missing in Ukraine, at least two feared captured

[Tahuyaman]

So? They went to fight. Getting dead or captured is a risk. The US should use its typical diplomacy tool kit for this scenario, that is it.

American fighters reportedly missing in Ukraine, at least two feared captured

Two Americans fighting alongside Ukrainian forces north of Kharkiv have been missing for nearly a week and there are fears that they may have been captured by Russian forces, according to their families and a fellow fighter.

The men are Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, from Hartselle, Alabama.
In addition, the US State Department said Thursday that it was aware of reports that a third American who traveled to Ukraine to fight against Russia had gone missing "in recent weeks.""There are reports of one additional American whose whereabouts are unknown. I can't speak to the specifics of that case. Unfortunately we don't know the full details of that case," said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price at a press briefing on Thursday.

They screwed up and made poor decision. Now they should live with it.

[Peter1469]

Russia can't guarantee that American vets captured in Ukraine won’t face the death penalty

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman wouldn’t guarantee that two U.S. military veterans captured in Ukraine won’t face the death penalty in an exclusive interview Monday.


“It depends on the investigation,” Dmitry Peskov told NBC News senior international correspondent Keir Simmons when he was asked whether Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh would “face the same fate” as two British citizens and a Moroccan who were sentenced to death by Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine this month.

[Bigdog]

They are on their own, good luck to them.

Imagine traveling all that way to go help little innocent Ukraine and first thing they send you straight to the front! Just like that other story from the guy whose base was blown up and how they were treated by the people they went to actually help. I hope the media is happy with all the people they whipped up to go fight in a fight that isn't theirs.

[Peter1469]

Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call

For several families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, a virtual meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday did little to reassure them that the administration is making the safe return of their loved ones a priority.

Participants who spoke with Al-Monitor described an at times tense video call with Blinken on Wednesday, with one calling it a “box-checking” exercise. The family members, some of whom requested anonymity because the secretary told participants the call was off-the-record, were encouraged by Blinken's decision to meet with them virtually but said more should be done to bring their relatives home.

[Peter1469]

The Russians pointed out that the Geneva Convention protections for POWs do not apply to mercenaries (or terrorists).


Russia says Geneva Conventions won't apply to 2 captured US veterans | American Military News

The Russian government signaled on Monday that it would not apply the Geneva Conventions — which govern wartime conduct like the treatment of prisoners of war — to the two U.S. veterans who were captured in the fighting in Ukraine earlier this month.

In an interview with NBC journalist Keir Simmons on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described captured U.S. Army veteran Alexander Drueke, 39, and U.S. Marine veteran Andy Huynh, 27, as “soldiers of fortune” and said they were “involved in illegal activities” when they were captured during fighting near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
Russia says Geneva Conventions won't apply to 2 captured US veterans | American Military News

[Peter1469]

The third American to die there as a mercenary.




Army vet killed fighting in Ukraine: report



A U.S. citizen was killed fighting in Ukraine last month, State Department officials confirmed, marking the third American to die in the years-long war that expanded in February when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor.


The department said Tuesday that Stephen Zabielski had died in Ukraine and that it is in touch with his family to provide consular support and assistance. “Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have nothing further,” it said.

Zabielski, a Florida resident who reportedly served in the Army, was killed on May 15 by a land mine while fighting with Ukraine’s International Legion of Territorial Defense, according to Rolling Stone. Zabielski died fighting in the country’s southeast, which has become the war’s focal point after Ukraine successfully stopped the Russian military’s attempt to capture the capital of Kyiv during the war’s early weeks.


According to Rolling Stone, Zabielski was serving as part of an English-speaking squad that called themselves “the Wolverines,” in an apparent reference to the movie Red Dawn.

[The Xl]

They can go collect their Darwin award.

[Bigdog]

Families of American hostages abroad discouraged after Blinken call

For several families of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, a virtual meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday did little to reassure them that the administration is making the safe return of their loved ones a priority.

Participants who spoke with Al-Monitor described an at times tense video call with Blinken on Wednesday, with one calling it a “box-checking” exercise. The family members, some of whom requested anonymity because the secretary told participants the call was off-the-record, were encouraged by Blinken's decision to meet with them virtually but said more should be done to bring their relatives home.

Not sure how they think Blinkin or any US official including the president can help here, they will without a doubt be looking to make an example of these people and catching and releasing them is not one of them. If i was one of these two i would rather be killed then spend any amount of time in one of their max prison systems, were i doubt it would be a pleasant stay for them. Regardless i very much doubt these two will be coming home ever, they are not being held for ransom or some end goal.

[Peter1469]

Not sure how they think Blinkin or any US official including the president can help here, they will without a doubt be looking to make an example of these people and catching and releasing them is not one of them. If i was one of these two i would rather be killed then spend any amount of time in one of their max prison systems, were i doubt it would be a pleasant stay for them. Regardless i very much doubt these two will be coming home ever, they are not being held for ransom or some end goal.

I think it may be possible for prisoner exchanges if the US is holding any Russian assets they deem important enough.

[Peter1469]

Two Americans dead in Donbas region of Ukraine

Two Americans have died in eastern Ukraine, according to the State Department.


In a statement obtained by The Hill, the department said Saturday that the two died in the Donbas region of the country, where Russian forces have redoubled their efforts, intensifying their attacks in an attempt to take land.


“We are in touch with the families and providing all possible consular assistance,” the State Department said in an email to The Hill. “Out of respect to the families during this difficult time, we have nothing further,” the department concluded.