A U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Korea has been detained in Russia for allegedly stealing from a woman, according to two Pentagon officials. The sergeant was arrested on May 2 in Vladivostok, although it is unclear how he arrived there. The soldier was in the process of changing duty stations from Korea back to Fort Cavazos (Ft. Hood) in the U.S., and was not there on official travel. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the U.S. is aware of the case and other matters related to Russia, but could not provide further details at the time. NBC News initially reported the soldier’s detention in Russia over the weekend, adding to ongoing tensions between the two countries.
The U.S. has been working to secure the release of two other Americans who are currently detained in Russia. Paul Whelan, a former Marine, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges that the U.S. and his family claim are baseless. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was jailed in March 2023 on similar espionage charges, which both the U.S. and his family declare to be unfounded. He is awaiting trial in Russia, adding to the diplomatic challenges faced by the U.S. in dealing with Russia.
In December, the State Department announced that Russia had rejected a “significant” proposal for the release of the detained Americans. The U.S. has been cautioning its citizens against traveling to Russia for months, and has advised those already living in the country to leave immediately. An updated travel advisory issued in September warned that Americans traveling to Russia could be targeted for detention by Russian security officials, with limited assistance available from the U.S. Embassy in Russia. These warnings highlight the escalating tensions and challenges faced by Americans in Russia amid ongoing diplomatic disputes and detentions.
The situation involving the detained U.S. Army sergeant in Russia is a developing story that continues to unfold. The U.S. government is closely monitoring the case and working to address the challenges posed by the soldier’s detention in Russia. The ongoing efforts to secure the release of all Americans wrongfully detained in Russia underscore the complex and delicate diplomatic relations between the two countries. As the situation evolves, further updates are expected to shed light on the developments and actions taken by the U.S. government to address the challenges posed by the detainment of Americans in Russia.
David Martin, CBS News’ National Security Correspondent, contributed to the reporting on the detention of the U.S. Army sergeant in Russia. His coverage of the situation provides valuable insights into the diplomatic tensions and challenges faced by the U.S. government in dealing with Russia. As the story continues to develop, additional reporting and updates are expected to provide further context and analysis on the ongoing efforts to address the detainment of Americans in Russia and the broader implications for U.S.-Russia relations.
