Russia has released ten foreign men, including two Americans from Alabama, who were fighting for Ukraine against invading Russian forces in a deal brokered by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced, Reuters reports.
A Saudi official said the released were five Britons, two Americans, a Croatian, a Moroccan and a Swedish national. The Swede was captured in the Donbas region and was facing a death sentence by a court set up by the breakaway Donbas People’s Republic (DPR). The ten were transferred from Russian custody to Saudi officials Wednesday.
Family members of U.S. citizens Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, were told that their relatives were being released, a family representative said. There was no reference to what the Saudis promised the Russians for the release.