A Russian state television channel on Friday aired videos on social media of Americans who had volunteered to fight Ukrainian forces and had been missing for days.
US President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday that he did not know the whereabouts of the two men, two former US soldiers whose relatives have not known about them since last week.
Biden added that Americans should not go to Ukraine.
The State Department also said that there was information about the disappearance of a third American citizen “in recent weeks.”
Russian state television reported on the arrest of two Americans, Alexander Droke and Andy Hoin, by Russian forces in Ukraine. Immediately after airing a video of family members crying and begging for their lives, the state-run TV presenter used sarcastic remarks, meaning that there was no chance of their release. pic.twitter.com/cOHp1rcwTg
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And Roman Kusarov, a Russian journalist who works for the Russian public television network RT, aired a clip of Alexander Drovik speaking in front of the camera on Telegram on Friday evening.
“Mom, I just want to tell you that I’m alive and I hope to be home as soon as possible,” said Darwick, who was dressed in military uniform and appeared to be sitting in an office.
RT also aired a clip of Andy Hoin on his official Telegram account, explaining that he and Alexander Drovich were “fighting Russian forces” near Kharkov (eastern Ukraine).
“Russian forces took control of our positions. We had to retreat,” Huin added. He said they surrendered to Russian forces after hiding for several hours.
The two men were also filmed in other videos aired by RT in which they said they “oppose the war”.
It is not yet clear under what circumstances the two ex-soldiers spoke or who held them.
According to the State Department, three Americans are believed to have disappeared amid a group of veterans who have joined other foreign volunteers fighting alongside Ukrainian forces.
It was noted that the third American, a former US Marine officer, had more than twenty years of experience. According to his wife told CNN, the latest information about him was received in late April.
Source: Lebanon Debate