A former U.S. soldier who was captured by Russian-backed forces in Ukraine two months in the past instructed his mom in a cellphone name that he and two different American prisoners are nonetheless within the Donetsk area of Ukraine, the household mentioned in a press launch. Alex Drueke spoke to his mom, Lois "Bunny" Drueke, and a U.S. State Division case supervisor Thursday morning, the household mentioned.
"A number of issues he mentioned appear to point they're nonetheless within the Donetsk area of Ukraine," Bunny Drueke mentioned within the press launch. "When he was capable of name two weeks in the past, he mentioned they'd been moved to an precise jail, so we weren't certain if they'd perhaps been relocated to Russia. However now I do not assume they've."
She mentioned he talked about a "close by bombing of a water filtration plant that left loads of Donetsk with out operating water, so that they have been given bottled water the previous couple of days."
Alex additionally requested if "the information in America was displaying that 'persons are dying right here in Donetsk and Donbas,'" in keeping with Bunny Dreuke.
The State Division has not confirmed whether or not the boys are in Donetsk.
Two months in the past, Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh, who had been volunteering with a squadron of international fighters alongside the Ukrainian military, had been captured by Russian forces. The U.S. is working to substantiate whether or not a 3rd American, recognized as retired Marine Captain Grady Kurpasi, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. army, was additionally taken prisoner. He went silent after taking small-arms hearth within the Kherson area earlier this summer time, in keeping with a household good friend.
Ukrainian authorities spokespeople have labeled them as prisoners of struggle.
In a Thursday press launch, Bunny Drueke mentioned her son "sounded stronger and extra like himself than ever earlier than."
In accordance with Alex's aunt, Dianna Shaw, he mentioned that he is in a jail cell with Huynh and an unidentified third American. They play "thoughts video games" and chess, utilizing trash as recreation items, and in addition get time exterior, she mentioned she was instructed.
Alex additionally requested his mother in regards to the type of information protection the struggle is receiving within the U.S.
"Whereas it sounds identical to Alex to wish to learn about this, we additionally assume that is one thing his captors wished him to ask as a result of he saved returning to the topic all through the decision," Shaw mentioned.
"Alex made a few statements that clearly had been supplied to him and supposed to painting Russia as non-aggressors within the battle," Shaw added. The press launch mentioned the household isn't repeating these statements.
"POWs are sometimes used for propaganda functions, so we wish to remind the general public to be skeptical of any statements the boys make in Russian-generated media," Shaw mentioned.
Final month, Russian media launched unverified pictures and movies allegedly displaying the prisoners. Bunny Drueke mentioned one of many individuals within the pictures was her son.
"Unmistakably below duress, however thank God they're alive," Bunny Drueke instructed CBS Information international correspondent Chris Livesay on the time.
Thursday's press launch mentioned each Drueke and Huynh's households are receiving briefings from authorities officers and assist from "NGOs that serve households of hostages and detainees."
Russia's struggle in Ukraine has been ongoing since February. A lot of the heavy combating has been within the jap portion of the nation, together with Donetsk.
Drueke's mom beforehand instructed "CBS Mornings" that her son "felt very strongly that Putin wanted to be stopped, as a result of he mentioned Putin isn't going to be glad with simply a part of Ukraine, and even all of Ukraine."