Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

Two U.S. lawmakers said Wednesday they have been asked by the families of two former U.S. service members who volunteered to assist the Ukrainian forces for their help in locating them.

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell said in a statement her office is helping a family locate Alexander Drueke, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

"Earlier this week, the mother of Alexander Drueke, a Tuscaloosa Army Veteran who volunteered to assist the Ukrainian Army in combating Russia, reached out to my office after losing contact with her son. According to his family, they have not heard from Drueke in several days," she said in a statement.

She said her office has been in contact with the State Department, the FBI and other members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation.

Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt said his office is helping in the search for Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, of Trinity, Alabama, after his family reached out to the congressman's office this week.

"According to Huynh’s family, they have not been in contact with him since June 8, 2022, when he was in the Kharkiv area of Ukraine," he said in a statement.

Aderholt said his office has reached out to the State Department and FBI to "get any information possible."

Huynh, a former Marine, spoke to Huntsville, Alabama, ABC affiliate WAAY in April about his decision to help defend Ukraine.

"I've made peace with the decision. I know there's a potential of me dying. I'm willing to give my life for what I believe is right," he told the station.

White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he "can't confirm the reports" of two Americans captured in Ukraine.

"We'll do the best we can to monitor this and see what we can learn about it," he said. "Obviously, if it's true, we'll do everything we can to get them safely back home."

The State Department also is aware of the "unconfirmed" reports, a spokesperson said.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and are in contact with Ukrainian authorities," the spokesperson said. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment."

The State Department has warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Ukraine during the war and that Russian security officials could be "singling out" U.S. citizens.

-ABC News' Benjamin Stein, Ben Gittleson and Shannon Crawford

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, said Ukrainian officials' estimate of 100 Ukrainian military deaths per day is "in the ballpark" with U.S. estimates.

Milley would not disclose exactly how many more artillery pieces the Russians have than the Ukrainians, saying that was classified, but he confirmed that they do outnumber the Ukrainians.

Milley noted that while the Russians are using large numbers of artillery to target civilian and urban areas, Ukrainians are using "much better artillery techniques" on the battlefield. Milley explained how the mortars, howitzers and HIMARS systems will give the Ukrainians a more effective combined layered system to strike at the Russians from short, medium and long distances.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

John Kirby, joining Wednesday's White House press briefing in his new role as National Security Council coordinator, said the $1 billion in military aid announced Wednesday is the first to come from the $40 billion aid package that was passed by Congress in May.

Looking ahead, Kirby said, "you will see additional packages” coming on a “fairly routine basis.”

“We want to meter it out so that we're in lockstep with the Ukrainians and where they are on the battlefield and what they need in real time," he said.

-ABC News' Justin Ryan Gomez

President Joe Biden has announced $1 billion more in U.S. military aid for Ukraine.

Biden said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday morning and that the aid will include "additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems."

Biden also announced $225 million in humanitarian assistance "to help people inside Ukraine, including by supplying safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and health care, food, shelter, and cash for families to purchase essential items," according to a statement.

-ABC News' Justin Ryan Gomez