Members of the family of Alexander Drueke, one among two veterans captured whereas preventing in jap Ukraine earlier this month who’s being held by Russian-backed separatists, contacted his household through telephone on Saturday, immediately addressing his mom, Bunny Drueke, within the first alleged contact since movies and photos of the 2 surfaced on Russian media over every week in the past.
“It was principally the identical message as within the brief video the place he addressed his mom – saying he’s OK, he’s receiving meals and water and has shelter and bedding,” mentioned Dianna Shaw, Alex’s aunt and household spokesperson, in an announcement acquired by Navy.com late Monday evening.
The household of Andy Huynh’s fiance, Pleasure Black, informed Navy.com over textual content message that they had been hoping to talk with him as nicely “however sadly that didn’t occur.” Huyhn was captured with Drueke, based on the households.
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“We will be optimistic and assume it’s a delay and never a denial,” Darla Black, Pleasure’s mom, mentioned.
Shaw mentioned that the Drueke household receives every day briefings from the State Division on the standing of the 2 veterans. The households of each captured veterans relayed that Dreuke had mentioned he and Huynh had been being held in separate cells.
“The State Division confirmed that the boys are being held within the Donetsk area, a difficult space from a diplomatic standpoint,” the Drueke household assertion mentioned. “Russia and the so-called Donetsk Folks’s Republic (DPR) presently management nearly all of Donetsk, having captured the southern and northern components, together with the town of Mariupol.”
The State Division didn’t reply by publication to Navy.com’s inquiry asking if it may verify the knowledge within the household’s assertion.
Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy known as the 2 veterans heroes, risking their lives for Ukrainian “sovereignty and independence.”
“I am certain we’ll combat for them and get them again, and naturally they are going to come again to their households,” he mentioned within the interview with the Aspen Concepts Pageant final week as reported by NBC, although what Ukraine may do to assist rescue the 2 males is unclear.
“Alex and Andy are Ukrainian Army volunteers with U.S. citizenship,” Shaw mentioned. “Because the U.S. is ‘on the sidelines’ of the warfare, it is as much as the Ukrainian authorities to take the lead on any potential negotiations or prisoner exchanges.”
“It is very encouraging to listen to the Ukrainian authorities is dedicated to securing Alex’s and Andy’s launch,” mentioned Drueke’s mom, Bunny. “I need to thank President Zelenskyy for taking their state of affairs critically.”
Shaw mentioned {that a} workers member on the State Division took the decision on Saturday and relayed it on to Bunny Drueke.
“I am simply glad to know Alex is alive and to know for certain the place he’s,” Bunny Drueke added. “Each ‘unknown’ that turns into a ‘identified’ is one step nearer to his launch.”
Earlier than their seize, Drueke and Huynh final spoke to their households on June 8, with Alex, a 12-year Army veteran who left for Ukraine in mid-April, telling his mom he was “going darkish” for a day or two. 5 days later, a member of their unit contacted Bunny Drueke saying the 2 had been lacking, based on the household assertion.
“I’m inspired that Russia seems to be treating them carefully to Geneva Conference protocols,” a fighter who says he’s in Drueke and Huynh’s volunteer unit in Ukraine informed Navy.com. “They’re legit troopers for Ukraine and needs to be accorded such standing.”
In an interview with NBC final week, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov known as Drueke and Huynh “troopers of fortune” and claimed the 2 vets should not entitled to Geneva Conventions protections that will forestall prosecution and the demise penalty, echoing claims made by Russian officers in March. On the time, one professional known as that declare “a gross distortion of worldwide humanitarian legislation.”
“They need to be held accountable for these crimes that they’ve dedicated; these crimes must be investigated,” Peskov informed NBC, saying the boys had attacked Russian forces. How they got here to be within the custody of Donetsk authorities is unclear.
“We need to consider all this stuff, and it’s Russia’s duty to verify it is all true,” mentioned Shaw, referring to Drueke saying he’s receiving meals, water, shelter and bedding. “Having Alex name and say this stuff tells me that Russia is aware of the world is watching how they deal with the 2 males,” including later that she suspected that the veteran was studying from a script.
— Drew F. Lawrence will be reached at drew.lawrence@navy.com. Comply with him on Twitter @df_lawrence.
— Konstantin Toropin will be reached at konstantin.toropin@navy.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ktoropin.
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