An American soldier was arrested in Russia. It is the latest case in a series of arrests by the Moscow regime

The soldier, an army staff sergeant who has not been identified, was arrested in the eastern Russian port city of Vladivostok, officials said. The Russian authorities presented accusations of theft against the soldier.

“The Army has notified his family, and the US State Department is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” the Army said in a statement. “Given the sensitive nature of this matter, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”

The United States learned of the arrest after Russia notified the State Department, according to military officials.

There are two Americans believed to be wrongfully detained in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive and former US Marine. Gershkovich was detained in 2023. He is being held on an espionage charge that he, the Journal and the US government vehemently deny. Whelan was arrested in 2018, before the invasion of Ukraine. Whelan and the US government deny the allegations against him.

Alsou Kurmasheva, who has dual US and Russian citizenship and works for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, based in Prague, was arrested in October on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent. Kurmasheva denied having committed any crime. Several other American citizens are also in Russian custody, awaiting trial or serving prison terms.

The Kremlin has denied that Russia is intentionally targeting American citizens.

It was not clear why the soldier on leave traveled to Russia or if he had permission to go there. He had completed an assignment in South Korea and was expected to move to a base in Texas, officials said.

US service members who go on leave are generally required to inform their superiors if they are traveling to a country considered an adversary of the US or that is politically sensitive.