A US soldier has been detained in Russia on charges of criminal misconduct, according to the US Army. The soldier, whose identity remains undisclosed, was based in South Korea prior to his detention. While the Army did not provide specific details about the charges, citing the sensitivity of the matter, one US official stated that the soldier was accused of stealing from a woman.
The soldier's arrest was reported by NBC News, and the incident has prompted diplomatic engagement between the US and Russia. Moscow notified the US State Department of the soldier's detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
According to a report from the Russian daily Izvestia, the soldier met a woman from Vladivostok, Russia, through the internet. The report alleges that the soldier and the woman lived together for a period, during which the soldier purportedly physically assaulted her and stole money from her.
This development comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to secure the release of multiple Americans detained in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich, detained on spying charges by the Federal Security Service (FSB) in March of the previous year, is one of several individuals designated by the US State Department as "wrongfully detained."
In response to the soldier's detention, a US State Department spokesperson reiterated warnings about the risks faced by US citizens in Russia and advised those residing or traveling there to depart immediately. The spokesperson declined to provide further details on the soldier's case due to privacy and other considerations.
