Russian media outlets on Friday (June 17) broadcast images of what they said were two U.S. citizens captured while fighting for Ukraine, in what could be the first confirmation the duo had been taken prisoner.
The Russian TV channel ‘Rossia 1’ showed a video clip of what it said was a brief interview with Andy Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama and a man it identified as Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Family members said on Wednesday the two men had been missing in Ukraine for a week and said they feared they had been taken prisoner.
In a separate six-second video posted on the Telegram messaging app, a bearded man with an American accent speaks into a camera and says “My name is Alexander Drueke, I am against war”. He repeated “I am against war” in Russian.
In another two-second video, the man that Russian media identified as Huynh said “I am against war” in Russian.
The Russian defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports.
Reuters was unable to verify if the men were speaking freely or independently verify their accounts.
(Reuters)
