<p style="font-weight: 400;">Two U.S. veterans from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alabama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alabama</a> branded “soldiers of fortune” by Moscow after being captured <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fighting for Ukraine</a> have been spared their date with a firing squad after a Saudi-brokered prisoner swap.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, who were captured in June while defending Kharkiv, were at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia after being freed in the exchange, a representative of their families told Reuters Wednesday.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“We are thrilled to announce that Alex and Andy are free,” the representative said in a statement. “We deeply appreciate everyone&#8217;s prayers and especially the close communication and support of our elected officials, Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova, and our members of the US embassies in Ukraine and Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Department of State.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JUST IN: Ten foreign fighters, including two Americans who joined the war effort in Ukraine before they were captured and held by Russian forces, were released as part of an exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/gSAneEZIym">https://t.co/gSAneEZIym</a></p>
<p>&mdash; NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1572653416228306946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></p></blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The swap was part of a deal that also included five British nationals, one Moroccan, one Swede, and one Croatian. It was mediated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi foreign ministry said. Ukrainian officials released an unknown number of Russian captives as their part of the deal.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Drueke and Huynh were the first known U.S. citizens to be captured by Russian forces. Huynh&#8217;s fiancé, Joy Black, told Reuters at the time the men signed up to fight after seeing television footage of the Russian invasion, which began February 24.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Drueke, of Tuscaloosa, and Huynh, of Hartselle, who both served in the U.S. military, did not know each other before joining the fight. They were captured in a village near Kharkiv, <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/07/14/how-2-american-veterans-ended-ukraine-prisoners-of-russian-armed-militants.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Military.com reported in July</a>.</p>
<p>&#8220;A week ago, our team ended up isolated in the middle of a Russian offensive,&#8221; the men&#8217;s unit later posted in a June 15 tweet that announced their capture.</p>
<p>After they were taken prisoner, Drueke and Huynh were held in the Donetsk People&#8217;s Republic, a region in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian separatists.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Russian state TV aired interviews with the men in which they sympathized with Russia, but their families said they were under obvious duress.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">“My name is Alexander Drueke, I am against war,&#8221; Drueke said in a video interview that Russia tweeted. “Ya protiv voyny,” he adds, Russian for “I am against war.”</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Russia said shortly after their capture that they would face  a firing squad, because they were considered “soldiers of fortune,” <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11236125/Russia-releases-U-S-citizens-Alexander-Drueke-Andy-Huynh-prisoner-exchange-family-representative.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Daily Mail reported.</a></p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Two Americans Captured Fighting For Ukraine Dodge Russian Firing Squad

CONTINUE READING

Trump Expects To Be Arrested, Indicted By Special Counsel Jack Smith In 2020 Election Case

Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino Says Biden Family Member Brought Cocaine To White House

Con Artist: Victim Of Hunter Biden’s Latest Scam Is His Own Daughter

Trump, DeSantis Shocked By Bombshell Daily Wire Investigation Into Transgender Healthcare Providers

‘Huge Win For Free Speech’: Andrew Klavan Praises Musk For Allowing ‘What Is A Woman?’ To Air Unrestricted

‘Every Parent Should Watch This’: Elon Musk Retweets ‘What Is A Woman?’ To His 140M Followers

News

Military

Putin

Ukraine-Russia War

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Two Americans Captured Fighting For Ukraine Dodge Russian Firing Squad