(Reuters) – Two U.S. citizens recently died in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, CNN reported on Saturday, citing a U.S. State Department spokesperson.
The spokesperson, not named in the report, did not provide any details about the individuals or the circumstances of their deaths but said the U.S. administration was in touch with the families and providing “all possible consular assistance,” according to CNN.
“Out of respect to the families during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by CNN.
The State Department did not respond to emailed queries from Reuters on Saturday.
Ukraine has been under siege by Russia for nearly five months in what Moscow calls a “special military operation” to disarm Ukraine and rid it of anti-Russian nationalism fomented by the West. Kyiv and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war.
Several Americans have volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian forces despite warnings not to take up arms. A U.S. citizen was killed in combat in May after he joined thousands of foreign fighters who have volunteered to help Ukraine fend off Russian forces.
(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
