The worried mother of U.S. soldier Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, Melody Jones, expressed concerns that her son was lured to Russia by his girlfriend, Aleksandra Vashchuk, and is being held on trumped-up theft charges. Black, who had been stationed in South Korea, traveled to Vladivostok, where he was detained by Russian authorities. The Army is investigating whether Black was specifically targeted by Russian intelligence services. Jones described her son as a good soldier with 16 years of service and said that Vashchuk had some sort of hold over him.
Reports emerged that Vashchuk may have posted videos on TikTok showing her with Black in South Korea in 2022 and 2023. Despite this, the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry office in Vladivostok denied that Black’s detention was related to politics or espionage. Black did not have Defense Department clearance to visit Russia, and there was no indication that he planned to stay there, according to Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith. Black was reportedly charged with stealing from a person referred to as “citizen T” and ordered to be held until at least July 2 by the Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok.
Black enlisted in the Army in 2008 and has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was most recently based at Camp Humphreys in South Korea before being out-processed and given two weeks to get to Texas. Despite current travel guidance advising against travel to Russia, Black told his mother he planned to stop in Vladivostok before heading to Texas. Jones expressed her concerns about her son’s safety, especially in light of other Americans who have been detained in Russia. She shared that her son texted her after being detained, assuring her that he was okay.
Jones revealed that Black listed her as his emergency contact, prompting the State Department to inform her of his arrest. She has not heard from anybody since then and is unsure if Black’s wife has been in contact with the military. She emphasized the impact on Black’s 6½-year-old daughter, who misses her father. Despite the challenging situation, Jones reflected on the support of her other children and expressed gratitude for not being alone on Mother’s Day. She continues to advocate for her son’s release and hopes for a resolution to the troubling situation.
