Russian serviceman. Archival photoMOSCOW, 15 Jun. The Telegraph reports that the Russian military captured two American mercenaries in the suburbs of Kharkov.
"Two former US military were captured during the battle with Russian forces in Ukraine. They were captured during a fierce battle in the suburbs of Kharkov last week", the British newspaper claims, citing their colleagues.
According to media reports, 39-year-old Alexander Dryuke and 27-year-old Andy Hyun fought on the side of the Ukrainian troops. They, writes Telegraph, are considered the first Americans captured by the Russian military. According to a colleague of the Americans, the mercenaries disappeared during the battle near Kharkov after they were told that the city was empty, but it turned out that Russian soldiers were already there. Neither the drones launched nor the on-site search party were able to find either them or their equipment, and later reports surfaced on the «Russian Telegram channel» that two American soldiers had been taken prisoner near Kharkov. The newspaper does not indicate what source it is.
Kadyrov supported the death sentence for foreign mercenaries of the Armed Forces of Ukraine»This is too strong a coincidence to be somehow otherwise, we are the only Americans fighting in this area,» the source quoted the publication as saying. According to media reports, Druke previously served in Iraq. His mother said that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after returning. «The US Embassy assured me that they were doing everything possible to find him, and that they were looking for him alive, not dead,» she said. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov emphasized that the mercenaries who arrived in Ukraine are not combatants and «the best thing that awaits them is a long term in prison.» He noted that foreign fighters do not have the status of combatants under international humanitarian law.