A U.S. Army soldier has been detained while traveling to Russia, the service confirmed on Monday.
“On May, 2, 2024, Russian authorities in Vladivostok, Russia, detained an American Soldier on charges of criminal misconduct,” Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement. “The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.”
U.S. officials have not publicly identified the soldier. No information was immediately available about why the soldier had traveled to Russia.
“The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia,” Smith said. “Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”
NBC News first reported on Monday that the soldier had been detained over the weekend after being accused of stealing from a woman. The soldier is assigned to a unit in South Korea.
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Relations between the United States and Russia have been at their worst since the Cold War following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Last month, Congress approved $61 billion in new military assistance for Ukraine, the first $1 billion of which will include air defense artillery, munitions, and other weapons systems.
This latest incident comes nearly a year after Army Pvt. Travis King crossed into North Korea after missing his flight to Texas, where he was expected to be punished for assault charges. North Korea ultimately decided to expel King, who was returned to U.S. custody in September.
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