Americans captured in Ukraine return home

BIRMINGHAM, Alab. (NBC) - Two American military veterans captured in Ukraine are back home in Alabama. They were released as part of a prisoner exchange mediated by Saudi Arabia.

Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh were release as part a prisoner exchange medicated by Saudi Arabia.

Family and friends greeted them Saturday at the Birmingham airport.

They had gone missing in June in Northeastern Ukraine near the Russian border.

Their release surprised family members.

"I personally did not expect it to happen for a couple of years. So, this caught us completely off-guard and apparently the rest of the world," Dianna Shaw, Aunt of Alex Drueke, spoke.

Also freed were five British nationals and three others from Morocco, Sweden and Croatia.