An American soldier, identified as Gordon Black, has been detained in Russia on suspicion of theft and is currently being held in pre-trial detention, according to two US officials. The soldier, a staff sergeant stationed in South Korea, traveled to Russia voluntarily and was arrested by Russian authorities on May 2.
The US Army has confirmed the soldier’s detention and stated that his family has been notified. The soldier’s name was not officially confirmed by the Army, but one of the officials disclosed it as Gordon Black.
The arrest comes at a time of heightened tension between the US and Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The soldier’s detention is just one of several cases of Americans being held in Russia, including two individuals declared as wrongfully detained by the US State Department.
The US Embassy in Moscow is seeking consular access to the soldier, and the State Department has emphasized the importance of the safety and security of US citizens overseas. The soldier was not AWOL at the time of his trip to Russia and was scheduled to move to Ft. Cavazos in Texas in the future.
This story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.