Two Americans detained in Ukraine while fighting on the Ukrainian side of the war were mercenaries who endangered the lives of Russian servicemen and should face responsibility for their actions, the Kremlin said on Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, interviewed by the U.S. television network NBC news, also said U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, held in Russia for more than two months, was guilty of drug offenses and not a hostage. ADVERTISEMENTGriner’s prosecutionMeanwhile, Peskov said Griner, who had come to promote basketball in Russia, was being prosecuted under laws forbidding the import of drugs. He “strongly disagreed” with any notion that Griner, who arrived in Russia in February, was being held hostage. The U.S. State Department determined in May that Griner was wrongfully detained and assigned diplomats to work for her release.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 21, 2022 09:26 UTC