Fugitive American soldier who's been on the run since January resurfaces in Russian military propaganda video

An American soldier who fled the US while facing child pornography charges has resurfaced in a Russian military propaganda video, revealing the skills he learned in the Air Force are now helping him serve the Kremlin.

Wilmer Puello-Mota boarded a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, on January 7, the same week he was due to appear in a Rhode Island court charged with possession of child pornography, obstruction of the judicial system, forgery and counterfeiting.

In a video distributed by the Russian Defence Ministry, a man by the name of Will recalls traveling from the United States to Moscow in January, then onto Donetsk where he 'served for three months'.

From there, he 'had some friends who went on to serve with the Ministry of Defence'.

In a video distributed from the Russian Defence Ministry, a man by the name of Will recalls traveling from the United States to Moscow in January, then onto Donetsk where he 'served for three months'

Those friends encouraged him to join the 137th brigade with them, the apparent filming location of the video, by telling him it was 'great'.

'So I decided to join them and here we are,' he said.

Former colleagues and associates have since confirmed the man in the footage featured on the Russian Defence Ministry appears to be Puello-Mota, 27,  Stars and Stripes reported.

In the vision, he rebukes suggestions he's a traitor for leaving America and fighting for Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.

'The United States and Russia aren't at war,' he said. 'I don't consider myself a traitor.'

Puello-Mota described the training he received in the US during his time in the U.S. Air Force and the Massachusetts National Air Guard.

'We deal with things like drones and other things... I've definitely been able to apply some of those skills, leadership skills as well here,' he said.

Puello-Mota described the training he received in the US during his time in the U.S. Air Force and the Massachusetts National Air Guard

In the vision, he rebukes suggestions he's a traitor for leaving America and fighting for Russia during the invasion of Ukraine

His role in Russia is a reconnaissance drone operator. A Facebook profile purporting to belong to Puello-Mota depicts a photo uploaded as recently as February of him operating a drone in military uniform. 

He also referred to the two years he spent as a 'city councilor' - elected in Holyoke Massachusetts. 

It was during this time, he said, that he was able to 'zoom out into the international level of politics', prompting an overwhelming feeling that he 'had to do something about it'.

He failed to mention in the clip that he was arrested in Rhode Island in 2020 and skipped out on his trial date when he traveled to Russia.

Puello-Mota called police to report his firearm had been stolen from his room. When police arrived, they found naked images of a 17-year-old girl on his phone, prompting his arrest.

He was later charged with attempting to deceive prosecutors and his commanders about the case.

He failed to mention in the clip that he was arrested in Rhode Island in 2020 and skipped out on his trial date when he traveled to Russia