- Grey Bull Rescue News
- Posts
- FOUR YEARS AGO, WE CALLED JACKPOT.
FOUR YEARS AGO, WE CALLED JACKPOT.
Olivia Smith
May 07, 2026
FOUR YEARS AGO, WE CALLED JACKPOT.
May 9th, 2022.
Grey Bull Rescue founder Bryan Stern navigated deep into Russian-occupied Ukraine and pulled an American citizen out of the clutches of one of the most dangerous intelligence services on earth.
This Saturday marks four years since that mission, and we're gathering to celebrate the man Bryan and the team brought home.
 | YOU’RE INVITED:VICTORY DAY RIDESATURDAY, MAY 9STARTS: 11 AMKICKSTANDS UP: 12 PM_______OCC ROAD HOUSECLEARWATER, FL |
Join Grey Bull Rescue, Bryan Stern, and Paul Teutul Sr. of Orange County Choppers on Saturday, May 9th, at 11am at OCC Road House in Clearwater, Florida to celebrate and honor the four-year anniversary of the daring rescue of former American hostage Kirillo Alexandrov from Russian intelligence forces.
The event, dubbed the “Victory Day Ride” for the day Bryan Stern rescued Kirillo, will have a motorcycle ride followed by a meet and greet with the team, Kirillo, and Paul Sr.!
Taken hostage and tortured by Russian forces in Russian-occupied Ukraine in 2022. Rescued by Bryan Stern and the Grey Bull Rescue Team.
Kirillo Alexandrov grew up in Detroit. He built a quiet life as a farmer in southern Ukraine. Then the tanks came.
When Russian forces swept into Ukraine in February 2022, Kirillo was trapped — deep behind enemy lines, surrounded by an occupying force. He did what any American would do. He called the U.S. Department of State. Their answer was blunt: his location made assistance impossible.
On April 2, 2022, Russian forces arrested him. Charged with 11 counts of espionage. His only crime was being an American citizen. He was taken hostage, beaten, and paraded as a war trophy.
That's when Grey Bull Rescue founder Bryan Stern got the call. Bryan’s storied career in the Special Operations and Intelligence Communities prepared him well for this type of mission. When Kirillo's case reached him, he didn't flinch.
HE PLANNED. HE SET CONDITIONS. HE LAUNCHED.
What Bryan and his team executed in the days that followed is the kind of operation that is easier to call magic than to explain. They navigated Russian-occupied Ukraine using tradecraft, deception, and guile. On May 9th, 2022, Bryan called:
JACKPOT. JACKPOT. JACKPOT.
Kirillo was free.
The Russians nicknamed Bryan "American volshebnik" — the American magician. To this day, they have no idea how he did it.
Today, Kirillo serves as a Survivor Ambassador and Board Member of Grey Bull Rescue. The man who was once the mission, now helping guide the team that saved his life.
Kirillo Alexandrov knows better than almost anyone alive what it means to need Grey Bull Rescue. What it means to be in need and nobody coming to help.
This Saturday, May 9th, we ride to celebrate four years of his freedom.