Trevor Reed expected to make full recovery after injured in Ukraine

Former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed, who was freed in a Russian prisoner swap last year, is expected to make a full recovery after being injured while fighting in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told Axios on Wednesday.

Driving the news: "Mr. Reed has been transported to Germany, and he is receiving medical care," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a press briefing Tuesday.

The big picture: Patel did not offer further details at the time about exactly when, where, or how Reed was injured, nor how serious his injuries are — and media reports on the exact cause have since varied.

• "Mr. Reed has been transported to Germany, and he is receiving medical care," State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said
• Patel did not offer further details about exactly when, where, or how Reed was injured, nor how serious his injuries are.
• Reed "was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government," he emphasized.
• Patel noted that Reed was transported to Germany by a non-governmental organization, but did not specify which one.

State of play: Reed was detained in a Russian prison from 2019 to 2022, after being arrested for allegedly assaulting two police officers.

• He was released by Russia in April 2022 as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian citizen convicted of conspiring to import cocaine.

• Patel reiterated that the State Department advises U.S. citizens not to travel to Ukraine and that the U.S. is not in a position to help evacuate U.S. citizens who do travel there.
• The U.S. will continue to advocate for the release of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained in Russia, such as Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, Patel added.

Go deeper: Blinken says sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine may take "months"

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional developments.