US mercenary missing in Ukraine Alexander Drueke

In a new video circulating online, US mercenary Alexander Drueke appeared wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt and camouflage trousers, saying “I am against war” in both English and Russian language.

Rectifying of #US intelligence: Meet the #American #mercenaries who came to fight with us in Ukraine. They were taken near #Kharkiv.
The first is #AlexanderDryuki, #Alabama, Mr. Taskolus.
->#Russians #USA #Ukraine
🇷🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/xSrkhWrCKk
— HappyEverline (@busnitized) June 17, 2022

Former US Army Staff Sgt. Alexander Drueke and Andy Huynh, who were both living in Alabama, were reported missing this month near the northeastern city of Kharkov, not far from the Russian border, and had traveled to Ukraine to fight alongside Ukrainian forces and teach them how to use US-made weapons, according to family members.

Following the announcement of two US citizens missing in Ukraine, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price stated on Friday that there are "reports of one additional American whose whereabouts are unknown."

US President Joe Biden said Friday that he had been briefed on two Americans who had gone missing in Ukraine, and urged Americans not to travel to the war-torn country.

A third former Marine Corps officer Grady Kurpasi lost contact with his family in April and was only recently identified. Willy Joseph Cancel, a fourth American veteran, was killed in Ukraine in May.

3,000 US mercenaries in Ukraine

Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform reported that 3,000 US “volunteers” are ready to arrive in Ukraine, amid Russia's ongoing military operation in the country.

The agency quoted the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ press service via Telegram as saying that "the volunteers are ready to repel Russia as part of an international battalion."

Among the US volunteers are army veterans "with combat experience gained in Iraq and other hotspots around the world."

Ukrinform reiterated that more than 16,000 foreign fighters are heading to Ukraine to fight Russia.

It claimed that "Ukraine is creating an International Legion of Territorial Defense consisting of foreigners who are willing to join Ukraine’s resistance and protect global security."

3,000 US mercenaries in Ukraine

Read more: US attracts IS mercenaries to fight in Ukraine: Russia's SVR