Videos Of Americans Captured In Ukraine Broadcast On Russian TV - US Reviewing Footage
Two American military veterans previously feared captured by Russia after they volunteered and fought for the Ukrainian army have appeared on Russian television, apparently as Prisoners of War (POWs).
The videos were widely circulated Friday, which elicited a brief statement from the State Department, saying they had "seen the photos and videos of these two U.S. citizens reportedly captured by Russia’s military forces in Ukraine" and "are closely monitoring the situation." The US is not disputing the accuracy of the footage, and the statement constitutes initial confirmation from Washington.
It appeared to serve as confirmation that 27-year old Andy Huynh and 39-year old Alexander Drueke are still alive, but are in Russian detention, the first such American POWs of the war, following a pair of British volunteer fighters being arrested and put on trial and handed death sentences in a pro-Russian Donetsk court earlier this month.
Russian state media, particularly RT, reported that the men were still alive and are under custody of Russian forces in the Donbas. Starting early last week the men's families have sounded the alarm over their likely capture, describing that they lost all contact with the pair a week ago. The Hill on Friday reported on a video statement made by one of the detained US citizens as follows:
"Mom, I just want to let you know that I’m alive and I hope to be back home as soon as I can be. So, love Diesel for me. Love you," Drueke said in a video shown on RT, referring to his pet mastiff, according to NBC News.
Drueke's mother had just prior to the video emerging said to CNN that "they are presumed to be prisoners of war, but that has not been confirmed." And CBS is now reporting that family members say the footage is authentic:
The mother of one of two U.S. military veterans reportedly being held by Russian or pro-Russian forces told CBS News that Russian media images that were released appear to be of her son.
"Unmistakably under duress, but thank God they're alive," Bunny Drueke, Alex Drueke's mother, told CBS News foreign correspondent Chris Livesay.
Drueke and Andy Huynh, who are reportedly in Russian custody, were both former military from Alabama, and were fighting in a squadron of foreign fighters alongside the Ukrainian army.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby in a briefing to reporters previously said that the US government "will do everything we can" to get Huynh and Drueke back.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/videos-american-fighters-captured-ukraine-broadcast-russian-tv-us-reviewing-footage