Freed Americans return home after disappearing while fighting in Ukraine

Andy Huynh (L) and Alex Drueke are seen hugging their family members after arriving at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth Worldwide Airport in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday.
AP

Two People who went lacking in Ukraine after volunteering to battle invading Russian forces acquired an emotional homecoming after being despatched again to the states as a part of a prisoner trade.

Army veterans Alex Drueke, 40, and Andy Huynh, 27, disappeared June 9 in Ukraine’s western Kharkiv area after touring on their very own to battle within the war-torn nation.

The pair touched down at New York’s Kennedy Airport Friday earlier than arriving of their residence state of Alabama to nice fanfare Saturday.

“It’s them!” a member of the family shouted because the daring duo descended an escalator at Birmingham’s airport earlier than being welcomed into the loving arms of members of the family.

It was an emotional greeting by members of the family who, at one level, feared the more serious for his or her family members.

AP

“Surreal. I nonetheless have chill bumps. I at all times imagined at the present time. I at all times held not simply hope however perception on this day. However I assumed it was going to be two or three years from now at finest,” mentioned Drueke’s aunt, Dianna Shaw.

“There are prisoners of warfare who've been held for months and years. There are individuals who have been detained wrongfully for years and for this to return about in three months is, simply, unimaginable to me,” she added. “Regardless that I’m residing it, it feels unimaginable, and I don’t need individuals to overlook all of the Ukrainians who're nonetheless being held.”

“I needed to get my fingers on him to truly imagine it. I’m simply overwhelmed with gratitude. We acquired our miracle,” mentioned Darla Black, whose daughter is engaged to Huynh.

The lads have been flown into JFK airport in New York Metropolis on Friday earlier than returning to Alabama.

AP

The discharge of Drueke and Huynh was introduced Wednesday as a part of a prisoner trade mediated by Saudi Arabia.

Eight different prisoners from Morocco, the UK, Sweden and Croatia have been additionally freed by Russian separatists, in response to the Saudi embassy .

“We’re trying ahead to spending time with household and we’ll be in contact with the media quickly,” Drueke mentioned after the pair touched down in Queens. “Blissful to be residence.”

With Submit wires