US monitoring reports of 2 Americans captured in Ukraine

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is seeking additional information after two Americans were reportedly captured in Ukraine while fighting on Kyiv's behalf, the White House said on Wednesday as it continued to warn nationals from traveling to the war-stricken country.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Biden administration is not currently in a position to confirm the reports, but said if true "we'll do everything we can to get them safely back home."

"I do think, however, that this is an important point in time to remind that we discourage Americans from going to Ukraine and fighting in Ukraine," said Kirby. "It is a war zone. It is combat. And if you feel passionate about supporting Ukraine there's any number of other ways to do that that are safer and just as effective."

CNN reported earlier Wednesday that Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Hartselle, Alabama, have been missing for nearly a week after fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in the country's northeast.

Russia has been pushing to capture the eastern region known as the Donbass since April after failing to take the capital, Kyiv, and pulling its forces from northern Ukraine.

At least 4,452 civilians have been killed and 5,531injured in Ukraine since Russia began its war began Feb. 24, with the true toll believed to be much higher, according to the latest UN estimates.

More than 6.98 million people have fled to other countries, while 7.7 million have been internally displaced.