International Conflicts

Kirill Alexandrov, American kidnapped in Ukraine: “Russia is not a country, it is an intelligence agency with people underneath”

In this interview with Diario AS, he tells us about his kidnapping and torture by Russia at the beginning of the war in Ukraine and the movie-like rescue that took him to Poland.

Laura Martin Sanjuan Greg Heilman

Update: Apr 16th, 2026 12:54 EDT

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This is not science fiction. It is real life. The case of Kirill Alexandrov, a farmer from Detroit, who moved to Ukraine with his family, holding dual citizenship, and was kidnapped in Kherson, is a reminder of how everything can change in a matter of minutes, and how crucial it is to have someone willing to come for you.

Like the American F-35 pilot shot down in Iran who has already been recovered by fellow Air Force members, or the historic case of another American pilot in the Bosnian War, Scott O’Grady, who survived six days in hiding.

American kidnapped in Ukraine shares his story with AS

Today we speak with Kirill Alexandrov, who spent 37 days in Russian captivity. It was the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation, founded by Bryan Stern, who also helped María Corina Machado travel to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, that came for him and organized a movie-like operation involving disguises, dozens of vehicle changes, evasion of Russian checkpoints, and an escape from the war zone that even included avoiding an attempted assassination of the organization’s director.

How are you now, after everything you went through?

I’m doing much better. The war is still ongoing, and I continue living that nightmare because I have friends and family there, but I’m in good hands in the United States and my health is improving little by little.

I still have many injuries, and the healing process has been ongoing since I got out of captivity four years ago. I’m still dealing with the aftermath, but thank God I’m no longer detained. Even so, the war and everything I experienced remain very fresh in my mind.

You used to live in the United States and then moved.

I have family there. I moved with part of my family, bought a house, a farm, and had businesses. I traveled frequently between Ukraine and the United States. I lived there but remained a U.S. citizen, born and raised in Detroit. I liked the quiet, isolated life I had there.

Did you notice anything before the Russian invasion?

When the war began in late February 2022, it hit me all at once. That day I woke up sick and heard bombings. I lived in the middle of nowhere, in an area where I had never even seen an airplane. That day I saw planes, then missiles, drones, fighter jets.

The peaceful life I had disappeared immediately. When the Russians entered my town, I saw them coming from afar: hundreds of tanks, thousands of soldiers. That first night they killed civilians, bombed homes, and kidnapped people. The occupation was total and very fast.

How did you survive the early days of the war?

I stayed hidden for several weeks, from March until April 2. I hid in barns, among stacks of hay. I knew that as an American I had a high chance of becoming a target. When the Russians entered homes, they could kill, rape, kidnap, or leave people alone.

I didn’t want to take that risk. But a local collaborator, a Ukrainian working for the Russians, saw me and reported me. They entered my house while I was stepping out of the shower and kidnapped me.

Kirill Alexandrov, American kidnapped in Ukraine: “Russia is not a country, it is an intelligence agency with people underneath” — Kirill Alexandrov during the days he was held captive.

Those first days in captivity, what were they like?

The first three days were terrible. There was a lot of physical and psychological torture. After that it eased slightly, but it was still unbearable. They moved me around, interrogated me, threatened me. They told me they were going to kill me. And it was easy to believe them. I saw people being tortured, raped, and murdered around me. It’s very easy to lose hope in a place like that.

One day before your kidnapping, you spoke with Bryan Stern, founder of Grey Bull Rescue.

My family in the United States knew Bryan and had donated to his organization months earlier when he was rescuing people in Afghanistan. They suggested I try to contact him. We spoke on April 1, one day before I was kidnapped.

I told him, “There are thousands of Russians here. How are you going to get me out?” He said, “That’s not a problem, don’t worry.” Even after I was captured, he found ways to communicate with me and manipulate my captors without them knowing. That gave me hope, even though at times it was hard to hold on to it.

Your rescue was extremely complex. What exactly happened?

Bryan negotiated, deceived, and created extraction routes for 37 days. The Russians didn’t know what to do with me. They knew they had violated the Geneva Convention, and that it would have serious consequences if the detainee was American.

They decided to execute me and possibly blame the Ukrainians. Bryan got me out just two days before that happened. I was first moved toward Russian territory, then to less controlled areas, and finally toward the border. Bryan secretly flew my mother from Detroit to Poland so she would be there when I arrived. Seeing her again felt like coming back to life.

Why do you think you were kidnapped?

Simply because I’m American. That’s it. That’s the reason. The political value of an American detainee is very high for Russia. That’s why charges were brought against four of the Russian soldiers who tortured me. I’m not more important than a Ukrainian, but to them an American is a tool, leverage, a hostage with strategic value.

A few days ago, two American pilots were rescued near the Iranian border. What did you feel when you heard the news?

It was very emotional. The rescue happened right after the anniversary of my kidnapping. I felt connected to them. I knew the United States wouldn’t leave them behind. Since my rescue, Grey Bull Rescue has pulled thousands of people out of war situations. It’s part of our identity as a country. We don’t abandon our own.

Would you like your story to become a movie or documentary?

I’m open to it. I use my story to raise awareness about the suffering of others. I’m still alive, even with injuries, but many friends and family members died. If a movie, documentary, or book can shed light on those still in captivity or those who died, then yes. But it would have to be done with respect and seriousness.

Do you think we are safe today? Spain, the United States, Europe?

No. We are not safe. Russia is not very good at fighting on the ground, but it is exceptional at targeting individuals, manipulating, infiltrating. That is more dangerous than a tank.

Their mindset is different. They do not value human life. They can lose millions and keep advancing while the rest of the world runs out of ammunition. Someone once told me something that defines the country: Russia is not a country. It is an intelligence agency with people underneath it. That is the root of the problem.

How do you think the war in Ukraine will end?

I don’t know. Russia can occupy territory, but it will never occupy people. Chechens, Georgians, Ukrainians, they always end up regaining their freedom. If the war ended tomorrow, we would recover Crimea in a few years. I’m sure of that. But I don’t know when it will end, and I’m not a military expert.

With so many conflicts happening, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela, what risks do Americans face in those countries?

If you are American and you can leave, leave. Russia kidnapped me in my own home. Iranian proxies execute teenagers for removing their hijabs. Do not underestimate their brutality. Grey Bull Rescue has evacuated more than 600 people from the Middle East since the latest conflicts began.

What message would you like to send to readers in Spain?

Understand that I am not the only one. I am just one of the few Americans who survived. Spain has helped Ukraine a lot. It has trained soldiers and taken in refugees. Many Ukrainians I met had trained in Spain. Ukraine is doing NATO’s job without being part of NATO, and it is paying a very high price. The war is not over, and we need to remain united.

Do you like sports?

Yes. Kickboxing, muay thai, rugby, wrestling. I practiced muay thai for many years.

Will you watch the 2026 World Cup in the United States?

I know that for Spaniards soccer is almost a religion, but no, I’m not that into it. I am a big fan of Ilia Topuria, though. Maybe if he sees this interview: Henitzvalli, Ilia; Henitzvalli Sakartvelo. “Peace to you, Georgia.”