Mystery as Texas Man Missing in Occupied Ukraine After Joining Putin’s Army

A U.S.-born fighter with pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine has gone missing, according to Russian-linked media reports, after intensified clashes in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.

This past Friday, Telegram channel Mash, which says it is linked to Russia’s security services, said local police in the eastern region were looking for Russell Bentley, a native of Austin, Texas, after he “disappeared” following shelling to the southwest of Russian-controlled city of Donetsk. He was last seen east of the current front line, close to the Kremlin-controlled town of Marinka.