US soldier detained in Russia had traveled through China, did not get US signoff

A U.S. soldier who is detained in Russia on charges of theft had traveled there through China, and did not get U.S. government approval for his travel plans, according to an Army spokesperson.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black was most recently stationed at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. He processed out of Eighth Army on April 10, and told his superiors he was heading to Fort Cavazos, Texas, Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said in a statement.

But instead of returning immediately to the U.S., Black flew from Incheon, South Korea, through China to Vladivostok, Russia, for “personal reasons,” Smith said.

“Black did not request official clearance and [the Defense Department] did not authorize his travel to China and Russia. Official and leave travel is currently restricted pursuant to the DoD Foreign Clearance Guide,” Smith said.

The new details come a day after POLITICO and other outlets reported that Black traveled to Russia in order to meet a woman and had been detained. A Radio Free Europe reporter posted on social media on Tuesday that the outlet had found TikTok videos posted by a Russian woman who identified Black as her “husband.” In the video, he called NATO “aggressive” and criticized President Joe Biden.

Black, who was arrested last Thursday in Vladivostok, is accused of theft of personal property, Smith said. He is being held in a pre-trial detention facility.

U.S. Embassy Moscow and Eighth Army notified Black’s family of his arrest soon after Russian officials notified the embassy.

Black, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 2008.