2 US volunteers believed to be fighting for Ukraine killed in Donbas, State Department says

• Two Americans have been killed in the Donbas, Ukraine, according to the US State Department.
• It is believed that they were volunteer fighters in Ukraine, ABC News reported.

Two Americans who are thought to have been fighting for Ukraine have died in the eastern part of the country, according to US State Department officials, per ABC News.

"We can confirm the recent deaths of two US citizens in the Donbas region of Ukraine," a State Department spokesperson said, according to the media outlet. "We are in touch with the families and providing all possible consular assistance."

The spokesperson added: "Out of respect to the families during this difficult time, we have nothing further."

The number of Americans who have volunteered to fight against Russia in Ukraine is unknown. But according to The Washington Post, an estimated 4,000 expressed interest after the invasion in late February.

A number of these are believed to have responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's plea for foreign volunteers.

Since the outbreak of the war, at least two other American volunteer fighters have been killed in Ukraine.

In June, the State Department confirmed the death of US citizen Stephen Zabielski. According to an obituary published in the local New York newspaper, The Recorder, Zabielski died in combat in May.

In April, the family of Willy Joseph Cancel confirmed to CNN that the 22-year-old had died in Ukraine. Early reports said he was a private military contractor, but his peers told The Washington Post he died while fighting as a volunteer.

Two US citizens have been missing since June. Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, and Alexander Drueke, 39, appear to have been captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine, prompting Zelenskyy to vow to fight for their return.