Russia sentences U.S. soldier to almost 4 years in penal colony

Black met Vashchuk in South Korea, where he was stationed until April, and began a romantic relationship with her. After she returned to Russia without him, he followed her there without notifying his commanders or getting permission.

In May, Russian authorities arrested and detained him on criminal misconduct charges. According to Interfax, he was arrested after fighting with Vashchuk in the apartment they shared, during which he grabbed her by the neck and took money from her purse.

Black claimed she had behaved aggressively toward him after drinking half a bottle of vodka and began hitting him, the news agency reported.

Judge Yelena Stepankova said in court Wednesday that Black threatened to kill Vashchuk and committed theft, and ordered him to pay back the money.

Black pleaded not guilty this week to the death threat but acknowledged stealing the money, arguing that the theft was not premeditated but out of necessity to pay for a hotel, state media reported.

The State Department warns Americans against traveling to Russia, and the Pentagon has barred military personnel from traveling to the country without permission. Neither the Defense Department, the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Moscow immediately responded to a request early Wednesday for comment.

A number of Americans are being held in Russian jails, among them former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, both of whom were accused of spying. The U.S. government declared both men to be wrongfully detained, a designation that commits the government to work for their release.

The detentions have added further strain to the tensions between Washington and Moscow, which were worsened by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Black is married in the United States but is going through a divorce, family members told The Post in May. They said he was supposed to be on leave, returning to Fort Cavazos in Texas, but traveled to Russia to see Vashchuk instead.

Black enlisted in the Army as an infantryman in 2008 and was most recently assigned to the 8th Army at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters in May.

He plans to appeal the verdict, his lawyers said.

Vashchuk did not appear in court on Wednesday, saying it was too hard to look at Black and remember the events that took place, Interfax reported.

Robyn Dixon contributed to this report.