2 Americans freed after being captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine in June, families say 

From CNN's Kylie Atwood


Alexander John-Robert Drueke, left, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, right. (courtesy Bunny Drueke/Joy Black)

Two American veterans who have been held by Russian forces for months have been released as part of a prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine, their family members confirmed to CNN. 

The men are Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, from Hartselle, Alabama. They were captured while fighting for Ukraine north of Kharkiv in June.

"We are thrilled to announce that Alex and Andy are free. They are safely in the custody of the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and after medical checks and debriefing they will return to the States. We deeply appreciate everyone's prayers and especially the close communication and support of our elected officials, Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova, and our members of the US embassies in Ukraine and Saudi Arabia and the US Department of State,” said Diana Shaw, a spokesperson for both families and Dreuke’s aunt.  
The families did not know that the prisoner exchange was in the works. 

“It kind of knocked us off our feet but this is the best outcome we could have asked for,” said Darla Black, the mother of Huynh’s fiancée, Joy Black, told CNN. “The only thing confirmed for us is that they are at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia and that they are free.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the release of 10 prisoners, who are Moroccan, US, UK, Swedish and Croatian nationals.
Joy Black got a call from Saudi Arabia this morning, less than an hour ago, to let her know that Drueke and Huynh were at the US embassy in Saudi Arabia and going to get medical checks. Then Huynh called her, she said.
Huynh never spoke with his family while he was being held as a prisoner of war. It was the first time his fiancée spoke to him in over 100 days. Drueke spoke with his family a handful of times. 
Darla Black said she also got a call from the State Department letting her know that Huynh was in Saudi Arabia. 
The families do now know many details about the trade or how they got to Saudi Arabia. 
The families also do not know exactly where the two Americans were being held, but the assumption was that they were in the Donetsk region.

Mừng quá. Thiệt là công dân mẽo có khác. Có nanh có vuốt

True heroes !

Mừng cho những người này và gia đình họ. Nhưng cũng buồn cho người dân Ukraine và Nga vẫn còn suffering vì chiến tranh và người thân bị chết chóc!

Tôi có lúc tự hỏi, nếu có người bắt được Putin, vậy thì Zelenskyy lấy gì để đổi?