WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States mentioned on Thursday it has not asked Russia about two U.S. residents reported missing after touring to Ukraine to struggle in opposition to Russian forces and mentioned there are reports of a third missing American.
“As of immediately, we have now not raised this but with the Russian Federation … (We) have not seen something from the Russians indicating that two such people are of their custody,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price instructed reporters, describing reports about the two males as unconfirmed.
Alexander Drueke, 39, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama, went to Ukraine as volunteer fighters in opposition to Russian forces, have been missing for every week, and are feared captured, relations have mentioned.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, saying it was engaged in a “particular army operation” to disarm and “denazify” its neighbor. Ukraine and its allies say Moscow has launched an unprovoked struggle of aggression, killing 1000’s of civilians.
Reports that the two had been taken as prisoners of struggle by Russia are unconfirmed, the households and U.S. officers have mentioned. Earlier, the White House mentioned it was “working very exhausting to be taught extra” about the two.
“There are reports of one extra American whose whereabouts are unknown… Our understanding was that this particular person had traveled to Ukraine,” Price added, saying the third American was recognized as missing in latest weeks.
(Reporting By Costas Pitas, Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese and Rosalba O’Brien)
