Captured US citizens Alexander John-Robert Drucke, 39, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huin, 27, were interviewed by Russia’s RT channel at a detention center in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Friday (June 17th), according to a report published on RT. (Bunny Drucke / Joy Black)
Two American volunteer fighters for Ukraine have been detained by Russian-backed separatists in Donetsk after being captured by Russian forces last week, according to Russian state media.
U.S. citizens Alexander John-Robert Drucke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huyn, 27, from Hartsel, Alabama, were interviewed by Russia’s RT channel at a detention center in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). On Friday, according to a report published on RT.
Disappeared near Kharkov: The two Americans disappeared on June 9 during a battle north of Kharkov, and there were fears that they might be captured by Russian forces, according to their families and comrades-in-arms.
Video appearances: Short videos showing men detained at an unknown location appeared on pro-Russian channels and social media on Friday. It was not clear then who was holding them.
A State Department spokesman told CNN on Friday that they had “seen photos and videos of the two US citizens reportedly captured by Russian military forces in Ukraine”.
“We are keeping a close eye on the situation and our hearts are on their families during this difficult time,” they said. “We are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the families themselves … comments on these cases. “
Separately, a more than 50-minute edited video was published on Saturday, in which Drucke and Huyn were interviewed by HelmCast, a pro-Russian Serbian nationalist YouTube channel.
Donetsk: In the interview, one can be heard behind the camera revealing the location of their interview when he says “here in Donetsk” during a question to Druke.
Beaten during detention: Drucke was also asked in an interview if he had any objections to how he was treated with him after his arrest, and he revealed that he had been beaten several times.
Why their location is important: The location of Drueke and Huynh’s detention is a potentially worrying development. Russia has a moratorium on the death penalty, while Donetsk is using shooting squadrons to execute convicted prisoners, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti.
Foreign fighters: On June 9, a DNR court sentenced foreign fighters, two British citizens and a Moroccan citizen to death after accusing them of being “mercenaries” for Ukraine. The internationally unrecognized court in the DNR said that the men have one month to appeal.
Prisoner exchange fails: Hopes that prisoner exchange between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists could release all foreign fighters detained in Donetsk were dashed after Denis Pushilin, the self-proclaimed DNR leader, said he could not it’s about.
“The exchange of British people sentenced to death in the DNR is not being discussed, there is no reason to pardon them,” Pushilin told Russia’s independent investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta on Thursday.
The Donetsk People’s Republic did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the detention of Drueke and Huynh.
CNN chooses not to broadcast videos of American detainees because they show men talking under duress.
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