"Former US Officials Allegedly Join Russian Military Amid International Tensions"

A U.S. Air Force veteran facing charges of possessing explicit images of a child reportedly joined the Russian army, as video footage emerged showing him in Russia expressing support for the country's war against Ukraine. Wilmer Puello-Mota, who was expected to plead guilty in Rhode Island, did not show up to court and is believed to have fled to Russia. His lawyer stated that Puello-Mota joined the Russian army to avoid registering as a sex offender. The U.S. State Department has not been able to confirm his whereabouts, and the Rhode Island attorney general's office received images purporting to show Puello-Mota in Ukraine and Russia.