The US State Department has acknowledged reports of a third American being captured by Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine.

Suedi Murekezi

A spokesperson for the state department said it was aware of unconfirmed reports that Suedi Murekezi, a US citizen born in Rwanda, was captured last month in the city of Kherson. The spokesperson added, “due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment.”

Kherson

According to Murekezi’s family, he lived in the occupied city for over two years, was a crypto investor, and served in the US Air Force. Suedi’s family says they initially received a phone call from him a month ago when he informed them he was imprisoned in Donetsk.

One of two prisons located in Donetsk, it is unclear if Murekezi is being held here.

In a brief conversation, the family says that Suedi informed them that he was being held at the same prison as two other Americans jailed (Alex Drueke & Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh).

Alex Drueke (left) and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh (right)

In a statement, his brother Sele said “We are all extremely worried for his well-being. He is obviously in danger. They are using him as a pawn for their own propaganda purpose.”