Information claiming that President Putin congratulated the Russian military for capturing over 3,000 US soldiers fighting for Ukraine in the Black Sea this afternoon (April 6, 2026) is inaccurate and appears to originate from false rumors on social media.

No official reports: Reputable international news agencies and official announcements from the Kremlin have not mentioned the capture of 3,000 US soldiers.

Misinformation: This information appeared in some social media posts (such as Facebook) with shocking content but without verifiable evidence.

Black Sea context: Although Russia and Ukraine are still conducting military operations in the Black Sea, the latest reports focus only on Ukraine attacking Russian “shadow fleet” ships with drones and Russia redeploying its fleet to avoid damage.

Previous capture events: Similar information about Putin congratulating the military usually relates to past events, such as the capture of the city of Avdiivka in February 2024 or the town of Siversk in late 2025.
US military situation: Currently, the most prominent news regarding the US military is the successful rescue of two pilots shot down in Iran (among the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict), not their capture in Ukraine.