Cheyenne, Wyoming – The mother of a U.S. soldier currently held in Russian custody spoke out on Wednesday, expressing her concerns about her son’s situation. Melody Jones revealed that her son, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, had traveled to Russia to visit his girlfriend, Aleksandra Vashchuk, whom he had been seeing in South Korea for over a year. According to Jones, Black has been detained on what she believes are false charges of stealing around $100 from Vashchuk, indicating that her son may have been lured into a troubling situation.
Jones described her son as a dedicated soldier with 16 years of service and a promising future ahead of him. Black, who was stationed in South Korea and was en route to a new assignment in Texas, appeared to have made a risky decision by traveling to Russia without the necessary clearance from the Defense Department. The circumstances surrounding Black’s travel to Vladivostok, where he was detained on theft charges, raised questions about whether he may have been targeted by Russian intelligence.
Despite the challenges faced by Black, his mother emphasized his positive qualities, describing him as a good-natured individual with a talent for speaking Russian fluently. However, Jones expressed her concerns about the influence that Vashchuk may have had over her son, leading him into a complicated situation that has now resulted in his detention in Russia. The details of the case, including Black’s intentions for visiting Russia and the exact nature of the charges against him, remain subject to ongoing investigations by both the Army and Russian authorities.
As the story unfolds, Jones remains hopeful for a resolution that would see her son safely returned home. With a family to support and a daughter who misses her father dearly, Jones faces the difficult reality of Black’s detainment while grappling with the uncertainty of the situation. Despite the challenges ahead, Jones remains steadfast in her determination to advocate for her son’s well-being and to seek clarity on the events that led to his current predicament.