Ukrainian soldiers fire from an American M777 howitzer in the Donetsk region. File photoWASHINGTON, Jun 21US citizen Steven Zabelsky died while participating in hostilities in Ukraine, the Washington Post writes, citing an obituary in a local edition of his hometown. According to these data, the obituary was written by relatives of the deceased, and the State Department confirmed the death of an American. «Thus, he became at least the second American citizen who died in this war,» the Washington Post notes. According to the newspaper, Willie Joseph Kansel became the first American to die in Ukraine. His death became known in early June, writes WP. The publication clarifies that the 52-year-old Zabelski was a native of New York State. He died during the fighting near the village of Dorozhnyanka on May 15. At home, the man left behind a wife and five adopted children. A source for the newspaper in the State Department said that after the incident, the department contacted the family of the deceased and provided «all necessary consular assistance.» The interlocutor declined to reveal more details on this case «out of respect for the family at this difficult time.»A mercenary from the United States called the Armed Forces of Ukraine a «circus of freaks» after the battle with the Ukrainian special forces. Earlier, the British Telegraph reported that the Russian military captured two American mercenaries who fought on the side of Kyiv in the suburbs of Kharkov. According to the newspaper, 39-year-old Alexander Dryuke and 27-year-old Andy Huyn are considered the first Americans captured by the Russian military. The State Department has previously informed that it has unconfirmed information about the capture of compatriots and finds out their fate in contact with their families, the Ukrainian authorities and the Red Cross. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» To this end, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine» bloody crimes against civilians» Donbass. 
Kyiv wanted to send mercenaries to the area of the Lisichansk Oil Refinery, Miroshnik said
