An American soldier has been arrested in Russia and charged with stealing, according to two US officials.

The military personnel in custody, Staff Sgt Gordon Black, was previously positioned in South Korea. He was en route back to Fort Cavazos in Texas, his home base. However, authorities report that he made an unexpected detour to Russia.

Cynthia Smith, an army spokesperson, confirmed that last week, on Thursday (May 2), a serviceman was taken into custody in Vladivostok, a significant commercial and military hub on the Pacific coast, due to allegations of unlawful behavior.

The Russian authorities informed the United States, and the military subsequently reached out to the soldier’s relatives.

“The US state department is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” Smith said.

It was unclear on Monday if the soldier is considered absent without leave.

The arrest of the US soldier comes less than a year after another American soldier Travis King sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas.

North Korea later announced that it would expel Travis King, who was returned to the US. King was eventually charged with desertion.

Russia is currently holding a number of Americans in its jails, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The US government has designated both as wrongfully detained and has been trying to negotiate for their release.

Among those in custody are Travis Leake, a musician with years of residency in Russia, apprehended last year on allegations linked to narcotics; Marc Fogel, an educator based in Moscow, who received a 14-year prison term also due to drug-related accusations; and dual citizens Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.

(With inputs from agencies)