Two US mercenaries in Ukraine captured by Russians

Two United States mercenaries veterans who were in Ukraine fighting against Russian forces have gone missing and are feared captured, family members and US Congress members have said.

The men – Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27 – who had been living in Alabama before travelling to Ukraine following the February 24 invasion by Russia, were last heard from in the Kharkiv region, which borders Russia.

Their families said they had last been in contact with both men on June 8 and were told they would be going offline for a few days.

US Representative Terri Sewell said Drueke’s mother had reached out to her office earlier in the week after losing contact with her son. US Representative Robert Aderholt said Huynh’s family had contacted his office about the disappearance.

“As you can imagine, his loved ones are very concerned about him,” Aderholt said in a statement on Wednesday. “My office has placed inquires with both the United States Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation trying to get any information possible.”

The Telegraph newspaper, which first reported on the disappearances, had quoted an unnamed fellow fighter who said the two mercenaries were captured after to escape the battle field from the Russians during a June 9 battle northeast of Kharkiv.