Two U.S. veterans who volunteered to struggle in Ukraine have gone lacking, their households stated on Wednesday.
One man was named Alex Drueke, 39, a former U.S. Military employees sergeant who served two excursions in Iraq, his household stated in an announcement. The opposite was named Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, a former Marine, Darla Black, the mom of Mr. Huynh’s fiancée, Pleasure Black, stated in a telephone interview.
The U.S. State Division stated on Wednesday that it was “conscious of unconfirmed reviews of two U.S. residents captured in Ukraine.”
“We’re intently monitoring the scenario and are in touch with Ukrainian authorities,” a State Division spokesperson stated. “Resulting from privateness concerns, we have now no additional remark.”
It was not confirmed however appeared most certainly that Mr. Drueke and Mr. Huynh had disappeared collectively. Mr. Drueke’s household stated that on the time he was with “one other volunteer soldier from the U.S.,” and Ms. Black stated that the 2 males had turn out to be buddies throughout the warfare.
Mr. Drueke’s platoon got here below “heavy hearth” on June 9, main all its members to fall again — apart from Mr. Drueke and the opposite U.S. volunteer, in keeping with his household’s assertion. Reconnaissance by foot and drone didn’t flip up any signal of the 2 troopers, the assertion continued.
“This might imply they’re in hiding or it might imply they’ve been captured,” stated Mr. Drueke’s mom, Bunny Drueke.
The 2 males, if captured, could be the primary Individuals identified to have turn out to be prisoners of warfare throughout the battle.
The Drueke household was notified of the skirmish and the seek for the 2 lacking Individuals by one other member of the platoon on Monday, the household’s assertion stated.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, Alex instantly instructed me he wished to go use his abilities to coach Ukrainians in how one can function American weaponry,” stated Mrs. Drueke. “He isn’t married, he doesn’t have children, and he has the coaching and the expertise. He felt it was his obligation to assist defend democracy, wherever wanted.”
The assertion described Mr. Drueke as an avid hiker who earlier than the warfare had been residing on household land in rural western Alabama whereas hoping to plan “a brand new journey” together with his Mastiff rescue, Diesel.
In an interview with WAAY-TV, an ABC affiliate in northern Alabama, Mr. Huynh, who was recognized as residing in a small metropolis within the area, Hartselle, and being from Orange County, Calif., stated that he had determined to journey to Ukraine and struggle after seeing 18-year-olds combating for his or her freedom.
“I do know there’s a possible of me dying,” he stated. “I’m keen to provide my life for what I consider is true.”
Earlier than going to Ukraine, Mr. Huynh studied robotics at an area school that Pleasure additionally attended, Ms. Black stated. He had been within the Marines for 4 years, coming into proper after graduating from highschool.
“Andy didn’t make the straightforward selection, he made the proper selection,” Pleasure stated by sobs in a telephone interview. “Andy didn’t go there for an journey. He simply wished to assist.”
Each the Black and Drueke households stated they’d final heard from the lads on June 8, when every stated they might be out of attain for a couple of days.
“Alex’s household has turn out to be our household,” Ms. Black stated. “If there’s anybody who understands how my daughter feels proper now, its Alex’s mom, so all of us really feel related.”
An Alabama congressional delegation — together with Senators Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville, in addition to Representatives Terri Sewell and Robert Aderholt, who signify the lads’s districts — is coordinating with the State Division, Ms. Sewell’s chief of employees, Hilary Beard, stated. A spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey added that the delegation was additionally working with the F.B.I.
Because the warfare started on Feb. 24, an unknown variety of foreigners have volunteered to assist Ukraine in varied methods, amongst them a whole lot of American army veterans who’ve sought to hitch fight. The State Division reiterated in its assertion that U.S. residents mustn’t journey to Ukraine.
There have been no confirmed reviews of Individuals being captured, and just one American has been reported lifeless: Willy Joseph Cancel Jr., 22, a former Marine infantryman from Kentucky who was killed on April 24 or 25 when his unit was overrun by Russian troops, Mr. Cancel’s uncle, Christopher Cancel, stated in an interview with The New York Instances.
Western governments and human rights teams had been rattled final week when a courtroom in Russia-occupied japanese Ukraine sentenced two Britons and a Moroccan man to dying, accusing them of being mercenaries.
Dave Philipps contributed reporting.
