Russia Reports U.S. Army Member Under Arrest

As if tensions with Russia were not already high enough, they are about to have a few gallons of gasoline poured on them.

This week, it was reported that Russia took a member of the United States Army into custody.

According to the report, the soldier is being charged with having stolen from a woman.

Going to Jail

The report was a bit shocking, especially when you consider the tensions between the two countries right now over the war with Ukraine.

The report, however, was confirmed by the Army.

Army Spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith stated, “The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

“The Army notified his family, and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia.

“Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”

This immediately drew criticism from the Republican Party, which is now demanding more information about the incident that led to an American soldier being detained in Russia.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) has already raised concerns about the reported arrest, stating, “I am deeply concerned by reports that a U.S. Army officer has been detained in Russia.

“Putin has a long history of holding American citizens hostage. A warning to all Americans—as the State Department has said, it is not safe to travel to Russia.”

The soldier, who has not been named, is reportedly stationed in South Korea and traveled to Russia on his own time, not as part of an assignment.

This will make him the third American to be imprisoned by Russia, joining Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.

Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 for allegedly collecting state secrets on behalf of the United States.

Former Marine Paul Whelan was arrested in 2018 for allegedly spying.

Whelan was in the headlines more recently for being left behind when the Biden administration allowed Russia to dictate the terms of a recent prisoner exchange.

The United States received back Brittney Griner, a women’s basketball star who was arrested for illegal possession of drugs while attempting to re-enter Russia.

Griner was in possession of a vape cartridge that is illegal in Russia.

She was traded for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout in a deal that was heavily criticized, but the administration defended itself by insisting that Griner was all Russia was offering.

Most of us at the time thought the United States should have walked away rather than allowing one of the most notorious arms dealers of our time to go free without getting more back in the trade.