Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine who was wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly three years before being released last year, was injured while fighting in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told CNN on Tuesday, according to News.ro.

American Trevor Reed was imprisoned in Russia for almost three yearsPhoto: Oleksandr NEMENOV / AFP / Profimedia

Trevor Reid, who was released in a prisoner swap in April 2022, was taken to a hospital in Kyiv and flown to Germany for medical treatment, the source said.

The circumstances of Reid’s injury in the battle have not yet been clarified.

“We know that Trevor Reid was wounded during combat operations in Ukraine,” a US administration official told CNN. “I want to be clear: Reed was not involved in any activity on behalf of the US government,” the official emphasized. “The US government has very frankly warned Americans not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in hostilities,” the official added. “We know that Mr. Reed has been transported with the help of an NGO to Germany, where he is receiving medical care,” the official said.

CNN’s source reiterated that the US government has warned its citizens who travel to Ukraine with the intention of participating in the war “that they face significant risks, including the very real risk of capture or death.”

The official said: “The United States is unable to assist in the evacuation of American citizens from Ukraine, including Americans who may choose to travel to Ukraine to participate in the ongoing war.”

The State Department later confirmed through spokesman Vedant Patel that Trevor Reed was wounded in Ukraine, insisting that he was there as a private individual and was not involved in any activity on behalf of the US government.

“We very clearly warned American citizens not to go to Ukraine, let alone participate in hostilities. As you know, we are unable to provide assistance in the evacuation of private American citizens from Ukraine, including those Americans who may decide to go to Ukraine to participate in hostilities,” Patel also emphasized.

Trevor Reed was injured several weeks ago, according to a person familiar with the incident, cited by the Associated Press.

The former Marine was released from Russian custody last year in exchange for a Russian pilot jailed in the US on drug charges.

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