Exclusive: US fighters 'captured' by Russian forces in Ukraine

[icymist]

Source: The Telegraph (UK)

Two former US servicemen have been captured during fighting with Russian forces in Ukraine, The Telegraph has learned.

The pair were taken prisoner during a fierce battle outside the north-east city of Kharkiv last week, according to comrades who were fighting alongside them.

Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, had been serving as volunteers with a regular Ukrainian army unit. They are believed to be the first US servicemen to end up as Russian prisoners of war.

They will join a growing number of Western military volunteers captured by Russian forces, including three Britons - Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Andrew Hill.

Last week, a court in the pro-Russian breakaway state of the Donetsk People's Republic sentenced Mr Aslin and Mr Pinner to death, after trying them as "mercenaries".

Read more: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/06/15/exclusive-first-two-us-fighters-captured-russian-forces-battle/

[pwb]

1. Former U S servicemen.

Former makes a big difference.

[jaxexpat]

3. One would hope. One would really hope. However..............

one would also hope Biden has much more good sense and understanding of international nuclear politics than...... say .....G. W. Bush, the "shoot now" *president. One would hope that the specter of TOTAL WAR's potential spins up, and unignorably true into the awareness of all American's Republican "challenged siblings".

[Polybius]

33. Biden is even more anti-war than Obama and Hillary Clinton

During The Surge, Clinton pushed Obama to do it. Biden told him not to.

[LiberalLovinLug]

6. A big difference officially

In regards to NATO’s obligation
But politically, especially if they are paraded around by Putins military, it will have an effect on pressuring Biden to do more (and from the Right to pull back)

[oldsoftie]

8. I'd be VERY surprised if there wasn't some very secretive stuff going on.

One thing I've mentioned before; we've had these armed remotely piloted drones for years. How hard would it be to paint & flag some of the donated drones with UKR markings but have them operated in some other country by US forces? And wouldn't it be hard for anyone to prove that was happening? It would certainly be a big help to the Ukrainians who may need time to be trained on the higher tech items

[COL Mustard]

30. IF the Russians follow the Geneva Conventions, these men will be treated properly.

But IF I had a million dollars, I still wouldn't bet that the Russians will follow the Geneva Conventions. If they capture you, you should expect a short lifespan thereafter. They are barbarians and have been throughout their history, and nothing has changed.

[imavoter]

35. Not likely n/t

[Bayard]

2. So....

What are we going to do if these 2 Americans are sentenced to death?

[KS Toronado]

4. Wow, they're sentencing prisoners to death ???

This has to go against The Geneva Conventions, Fascists like Putler & Agolf Twitler never play by the rules.

[XorXor]

5. They are using something similar to that whole enemy combatant thing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_combatant

Basically calling them mercenaries. Actually, it may be more like this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlawful_combatant


I think the outcome is basically the same.

[NutmegYankee]

9. They are uniformed soldiers serving in Ukrainian units. They are as lawful as a soldier can be.

For reference, the US military has around 24,000 foreigners serving in uniform as well.

[TomSlick]

12. Exactly.

However, Putin has been uniquely unconcerned with the niceties of the Geneva Conventions.

[XorXor]

28. I agree with you, but they are labeling them as mercenaries.

[paleotn]

10. Foreign volunteers are legitimate soldiers.

no matter what the Kremlin wants to call them.

[TomSlick]

13. Exactly.

Please see above.

[XorXor]

29. Unfortunately it doesn't look like Russia is playing by those rules

or any rules for that matter.

[KS Toronado]

27. Welcome to DU !

I find a lot of good stuff on Wikipedia also, plus I donate to keep it going.

[Voltaire2]

32. We tossed the GC when we started our GWOT.

Many of us warned that doing this would have consequences just like this.

[oldsoftie]

7. I guess it was bound to happen at some point. We have several volunteers over there.

[paleotn]

11. The risk of being a volunteer in a war zone.

Comes with the territory.

[TomSlick]

14. No. A volunteer is nevertheless a combatant.

No matter the citizenship, an enemy soldier is entitled to the protections of the Geneva Conventions.

Remember, all persons serving in the US military, including several foreign nationals, are volunteers.

[paleotn]

18. That they are.

My point is, the risk of being captured or killed was always in the fine print. Once captured, the Geneva Conventions should hold sway. But then again, they're fighting an aggressor who rarely plays by civilized rules. They knew this going in and still went. I have nothing but respect and admiration for all of them.

[TomSlick]

19. All true.

[IronLionZion]

15. Any westerners over there would be a major target for capture

so Russia would use them to negotiate something for exchange.

These guys mean well but it's very dangerous business.

[TomSlick]

20. All soldiers know war is a dangerous business.

Ukraine must defend its soldiers, irrespective of nationality.

Ukraine should make it clear that for each of its soldiers executed by Russia, a Russian prisoner of war will be executed as a reprisal - starting with the most senior and working down the list.

[IronLionZion]

21. They are American citizens, so Russia would negotiate with the US

Maybe to ease sanctions or something like that

[TomSlick]

23. The US should not negotiate with a terrorist state.

Putin should not be rewarded with a reduction of sanctions for violating the Geneva Convention. Instead, the US should make it clear that if Russia executes any US citizen in violation of the Geneva Convention, there will be an appropriate response and leave Russia to wonder what that response may be.

[David__77]

26. "Reprisal" executions are against the Geneva Convention.

…I can understand not everyone supports Geneva Convention.

[TomSlick]

34. The ability to conduct reprisals are limited under the Geneva Convention but not strictly prohibited

When one belligerent is engaging in war crimes, a reprisal may be appropriate if there is a warning in advance of the act which will result in the reprisal.

There is a point at which a belligerent nation can only be deterred from future crimes by the threat of reprisal. If the threat of reprisal is ignored, there must be a follow-up on the threat to deter future crimes.

[rockfordfile]

31. I agree with for each soldier put to death.

[Marcuse]

16. Keep your head down, Malcolm.

[2naSalit]

17. +1

[soryang]

22. Whether a person is a POW or mercenary is complex legal question

The United States does not view the mere act of being a mercenary as a crime under international law.57 Thus, mercenaries may be afforded Prisoner of War (POW) status, but only if they meet the requirements thereof—such as being considered a member of the militia or the armed forces of the nation. Depending on the circumstances, however, there may be doubt with respect to the status of these detained mercenaries. In cases of doubt, the United States would determine through a competent tribunal (commonly referred to as an “Article 5 tribunal”) whether the personnel are entitled to POW status or should instead be treated as unprivileged belligerents.58 Article 5 tribunals provide a forum during a conflict for a detained individual to address a panel of three commissioned officers and assert whether they are entitled to POW status.59

More relevant legal criteria earlier in the article:

Practice Notes

Are Mercenaries the Future of Warfare?
By Colonel Jeffrey S. Thurnher
https://tjaglcs.army.mil/tal-2021-issue-1/-/asset_publisher/jhkg/content/practice-notes-are-mercenaries-the-future-of-warfare-