Russia releases U.S. Navy veteran
Taylor Dudley, 35, a Navy veteran, was backpacking in Poland. During his adventure, he crossed over from Poland into Kaliningrad, a Russian province between Poland and Lithuania. The Russians subsequently detained Dudley. This event occurred in the first weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
From Reuters:
WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) – Russia on Thursday released a U.S. citizen who had crossed into its Kaliningrad exclave in the first weeks of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last February, former U.S. diplomat Bill Richardson, who met the man at the border in Poland, said in a statement.
U.S. Navy veteran Taylor Dudley, 35, was backpacking in Europe when he crossed the Polish-Russian border in April, Jonathan Franks, a lawyer who represents families of Americans detained overseas, said in an email to reporters.
Dudley’s circumstances while in Russia were unclear and his case had not been previously publicized.
The U.S. State Department was aware of reports that an American citizen had been deported from Russia, said a spokesperson who declined to comment further on the case, citing privacy considerations.
Russia’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the Polish foreign ministry declined to comment on the case.
Dudley’s release at the Bagrationovsk-Bezledy border crossing comes as relations between Moscow and Washington remain fractured after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began Feb. 24, 2022.
WNBA star Brittney Griner was released by Russia last month in a swap for Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout after talks between U.S. and Russian officials, but former Marine Paul Whelan remains in a Russian prison camp.
Reuters has additional information.
Category: Veterans in the news
Land nav skills and accurate maps are not just essential when in battle.
He knew he shoulda turned left at Albuquerque.
“Pismo Beach, here I yam!”
I’m willing to bet his Land NAV skills were spot on. More of a situational awareness issue.
Funny how many “veterans” in their middle 30s like to go “backpacking” along or just inside the borders of states that are hostile to the USA….
Shhh!!!
Who hasn’t wanted to go hike along the Iranian, Russian, North Korean, or Chinese border after ETSing?
Honestly, I was stationed along the Zagros Mountains my first tour in Iraq. Ever since, hiking their length has been a bucket list item.
As long as we keep electing idiots, I doubt I’ll ever be able to do so safely… but I can only wait so long before my knees completely give out. I will do it, someday, regardless of geopolitics.
I “hiked” enough in Iraq to satisfy me for a lifetime.
Of all the stories the media buries, this should’ve been one.
The dashcam video shows his partner getting away.
nzgvPcqmmIg
That’s funny, i was unaware of this guy, unlike the basketball player… For those of you smart enough to stay off facebook, we were lucky enough to experience months of inescapable “suggested for you” feed about her and her (self inflicted) plight..
Yeah, apparently gang tatted, dope smuggling lesbians aren’t too popular in Russia.
Judging by the “crowds” viewing WNBA games, they aren’t high on most people’s must see events.
I was hoping Russia Had decided to join the group of civilized Nations. They haven’t . I recently read a think tank piece put out by Britain’s Security Service pertaining to Russia’s Plan to Invade Ukraine.
Along with their incompetent Lap-Dog Military underestimating Ukraine’s Military ability to fight, and the population’s REAL opinion on joining the Russian Federation, they had sinister plans for Ukraine. Their directives called for the Summary Execution of Ukrainian Politicians and thousands of others on a list compiled by the FSB. They also planned on “educating” those who were either anti or neutral about joining the RF.. with a failing grade being a bullet.
Some things don’t change.. and obviously the American left has learned the lesson well. Why else would they want to disarm us all?? The only logical explanation, based on their actions, and direct statements, is that they intend the exact same thing for us “deplorables” that fail to recognize the error of our ways..