American Man Assisting Russian Forces in Ukraine Granted Citizenship

An American man, who asserts he has aided Russian forces in Ukraine for two years, received a Russian passport on Tuesday, according to state media.

Officials in the Moscow-controlled Donetsk area identified him as Daniel Richard Martindale, stating he had played a crucial role in assisting Russian troops during the seizure of the village of Bohoiavlenka, located near the occupied city of Vuhledar, in October 2023.

Martindale was featured in a televised ceremony at the Donetsk representative office in Moscow, where he recited the citizenship oath in Russian. Denis Pushilin, the pro-Kremlin head of Donetsk, announced that President Vladimir Putin had signed a decree granting Martindale Russian citizenship.

“I, Daniel Richard Martindale, voluntarily and consciously accepting the citizenship of the Russian Federation, swear to uphold the constitution,” he declared.

Originally from New York, Martindale informed reporters last year that he had done “everything possible to protect the lives of Russian soldiers” and sought Russian citizenship during a press conference in Moscow.

Pushilin stated that Martindale had provided intelligence that assisted Russian forces in capturing the Ukrainian city of Kurakhove in December.

The pro-Kremlin official further indicated that Martindale required rescue due to threats against his safety. “When it became evident that Daniel’s continued presence in that region posed a threat to his life, our special services executed a highly complex rescue operation,” he wrote on Telegram.

Martindale expressed his intention to become a farmer in Russian-occupied Ukraine, noting that “people may have experienced what I have.”

“They recognize that the land has truly been liberated from criminal rule and are all hopeful for a brighter future,” he stated.

Russian state media also reported that Martindale’s family supports his choice to stay in the region and plans to visit him soon.