Why US man Daniel Martindale was granted Russian citizenship in the middle of Ukraine war

Time of India

2 days ago

An American citizen who assisted the Kremlin in targeting Ukrainian troops amid the conflict with Kyiv has received a Russian passport in Moscow. The man was identified as Daniel Richard Martindale. He was assisting
Russian forces
during the special military operation in Ukraine. Later, he was spirited out of eastern Ukraine by Russian special forces.
Russian state television broadcast a report on Tuesday showing Martindale, with a trim beard and dressed in a suit and tie, smiling as he received his new documents, as reported by news agency Reuters.
Authorities in the Moscow-controlled Donetsk claimed that he had played a 'key role' in helping Russian forces seize the village of Bohoiavlenka near the occupied city of Vuhledar in October 2023, according to The Moscow Times.
The pro-Kremlin head of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, said President
Vladimir Putin
had signed a decree granting him citizenship. 'I, Daniel Richard Martindale, voluntarily and consciously accepting the citizenship of the Russian Federation, swear to observe the constitution,' Martindale said.
Martindale, who originally hails from, told reporters in 2024 that he had done 'everything to save the lives of Russian soldiers' and requested
Russian citizenship
during a press conference in Moscow, The Moscow Times reported.
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Pushilin claimed Martindale provided intelligence that helped Russian forces capture the Ukrainian city of Kurakhove. He also stated that Martindale had to be rescued due to threats to his safety.
'When it became clear that Daniel's continued presence in that area was life-threatening, our special services conducted a highly complex rescue,' he wrote on Telegram, according to The Moscow Times.
'Dream come true': Martindale
Martindale said that he dreamed of obtaining Russian citizenship as far back as ten years ago and is now very happy that his dream has come true. 'This dream entered my heart ten years ago, long before the current conflict—a conviction that Russia is not only my home but also my family.'
He said that in Russia, he wants to start a family and raise children as a true citizen. He also noted that his parents dream of living in Russia as well. According to Russian state media, Martindale's family supports his decision to remain in the region and plans to visit him.
What drew Martindale towards Russia
Martindale grew up on farms in upstate New York and Indiana, the child of missionaries who later moved to rural China, according to a Wall Street Journal report. A brief trip over the border into Russia's Far East during the family's time in China sparked Martindale's interest in Russia.
In 2018, Martindale, now in his early 30s, moved to Vladivostok, a Russian port city on the Pacific, where he studied Russian and taught English before being deported a year later for violating labor laws, the Journal said.
He moved to southern Poland but was keen to return to Russia, the journal said. In 2022, Martindale entered Ukraine just days before President Vladimir Putin ordered thousands of troops into Ukraine.