U.S. Army Soldier Detained in Russia Amidst Growing List of American Prisoners

A U.S. Army soldier has been detained in Vladivostok, Russia, marking the latest incident in a rising number of Americans facing detention in Russian jails.

A U.S. Army soldier was detained in Vladivostok, Russia, on Thursday, adding to a growing list of Americans held in Russian prisons.

According to Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith, the Russian Federation informed the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The Army has notified the soldier's family, and the U.S. Department of State is providing consular support.

The soldier joins corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who have both been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government. Whelan has been held since 2018 on espionage charges, while Gershkovich was arrested in 2023 on fraud charges.

Other Americans in Russian jails include Travis Leake, a musician arrested on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug-related charges; and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.

The detentions have raised concerns about the treatment of Americans in Russian custody. The U.S. government has repeatedly called for the release of Whelan and Gershkovich, but their cases remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, the Army has charged U.S. Army private Travis King, who last year crossed into North Korea, with a host of crimes, including desertion and possession of child pornography. King was returned to U.S. custody in September and is currently facing eight charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

According to Reuters, the Army has accused King of misconduct prior to his escape to North Korea, including a previous attempted escape from U.S. military custody and soliciting a Snapchat user to produce child pornography. He is also charged with insubordination and drinking alcohol in violation of Army regulations.

King crossed into North Korea on foot on July 18, reportedly fleeing from a tour group into the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. He was eventually returned to U.S. custody after North Korea's state media reported that he had confessed to crossing due to alleged mistreatment within the U.S. Army.

The detention of the U.S. Army soldier in Russia and the charges against Travis King highlight the complex and ongoing challenges in international relations and the protection of American citizens abroad.