Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American sentenced to nearly seven years in a Russian penal colony, has been released on Wednesday (Oct 21) after spending years in custody. The retired schoolteacher was arrested in Ukraine in 2022 and convicted of fighting as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces, an allegation his family disputed. Hailing his release, US President Donald Trump said that the American citizen was “on his way back home” in a post on his Truth Social platform. He added that he was freed from prison following his request to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week during a phone call. Trump said that the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s release and that there was “no swap” involved.<h2>Who is Stephen Hubbard?</h2>Hubbard grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan, and served in the US Air Force and National Guard, according to military records cited by The New York Times. He later earned a master’s degree in English and taught the language in Japan for 25 years.He moved to Cyprus before settling in Izyum, a city in eastern Ukraine, in 2014 with his Ukrainian partner.His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, told Reuters in 2024 that Hubbard lived on a pension of about $300 a month. and had few local connections. The two last spoke in September 2021, months before Russia’s invasion began.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-swap-needed-trump-takes-credit-for-stephen-hubbard-s-release-by-russia-1792585865747">‘No swap’ needed: Trump takes credit for Stephen Hubbard’s release by Russia</a><h2>Stephen Hubbard’s capture</h2>Russian state media said Hubbard was detained in April 2022, when Russian forces captured Izyum. Moscow alleged that he had been manning a Ukrainian military checkpoint. The circumstances of his capture remain unclear.Fox later recognised him in online videos showing a man being questioned about his views on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war. Another video appeared to show him being struck with a sandal while his hands were bound. Reuters could not verify when or where the footage was recorded.In October 2024, a Moscow court convicted Hubbard of being a mercenary after a closed trial and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison. Prosecutors alleged that he had joined a Ukrainian territorial defence unit, received military training and weapons, and been promised $1,000 a month.His family challenged the allegations. Hubbard’s US-based lawyer, Martin De Luca, told Reuters in June 2025 that Hubbard denied serving in a military unit and said Russian soldiers had taken him from his home.<h2>Why was his release significant?</h2>The US designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained in January 2025, allowing Washington to pursue efforts to secure his release. The State Department had said Russia refused to grant US officials consular access.Hubbard was the last American in Russia formally designated by the State Department as wrongfully detained, according to the supplied report. His release brings an end to a case that raised concerns in Washington over Americans held in Russian custody.

Stephen Hubbard, 74, has been released from Russian custody after years in prison. The retired American teacher was convicted of mercenary activity in Ukraine, a charge his family disputed.

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American sentenced to nearly seven years in a Russian penal colony, has been released on Wednesday (Oct 21) after spending years in custody. The retired schoolteacher was arrested in Ukraine in 2022 and convicted of fighting as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces, an allegation his family disputed. Hailing his release, US President Donald Trump said that the American citizen was “on his way back home” in a post on his Truth Social platform. He added that he was freed from prison following his request to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week during a phone call. Trump said that the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s release and that there was “no swap” involved. Who is Stephen Hubbard? Hubbard grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan, and served in the US Air Force and National Guard, according to military records cited by The New York Times. He later earned a master’s degree in English and taught the language in Japan for 25 years. He moved to Cyprus before settling in Izyum, a city in eastern Ukraine, in 2014 with his Ukrainian partner. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, told Reuters in 2024 that Hubbard lived on a pension of about $300 a month. and had few local connections. The two last spoke in September 2021, months before Russia’s invasion began. Also read | ‘No swap’ needed: Trump takes credit for Stephen Hubbard’s release by Russia Stephen Hubbard’s capture Russian state media said Hubbard was detained in April 2022, when Russian forces captured Izyum. Moscow alleged that he had been manning a Ukrainian military checkpoint. The circumstances of his capture remain unclear. Fox later recognised him in online videos showing a man being questioned about his views on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war. Another video appeared to show him being struck with a sandal while his hands were bound. Reuters could not verify when or where the footage was recorded. In October 2024, a Moscow court convicted Hubbard of being a mercenary after a closed trial and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison. Prosecutors alleged that he had joined a Ukrainian territorial defence unit, received military training and weapons, and been promised $1,000 a month. His family challenged the allegations. Hubbard’s US-based lawyer, Martin De Luca, told Reuters in June 2025 that Hubbard denied serving in a military unit and said Russian soldiers had taken him from his home. Why was his release significant? The US designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained in January 2025, allowing Washington to pursue efforts to secure his release. The State Department had said Russia refused to grant US officials consular access. Hubbard was the last American in Russia formally designated by the State Department as wrongfully detained, according to the supplied report. His release brings an end to a case that raised concerns in Washington over Americans held in Russian custody.

Stephen Hubbard, 74, has been released from Russian custody after years in prison. The retired American teacher was convicted of mercenary activity in Ukraine, a charge his family disputed.

Who is Stephen Hubbard? 74-year-old American released from Russian custody

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Oct 21) said that American citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released from Russian custody and was “on his way back home”. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed Hubbard’s release, saying that he was released from prison following his request to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week during a phone call. This comes after Putin first announced the release during a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff.Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison by a Russian court in October 2024 for “mercenary work” on behalf of Ukraine, a charge he denies.<h2>Trump says ‘no swap’ for Hubbard’s release</h2>Announcing his release by the Russian authorities, Trump said on Truth Social, “Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.”He further added that the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s release and that there was “no swap” involved.“The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no “swap” necessary for this release.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-stephen-hubbard-74-year-old-american-released-from-russian-custody-1792586983999">Who is Stephen Hubbard? 74-year-old American released from Russian custody</a>He also took a swipe at his predecessor Joe Biden, saying that his return should have taken place long before during the Biden administration, which he claimed “got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin”.Trump also linked Hubbard’s release to recent suspensions of some US sanctions and tariffs on Russia.“If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt,” he said in another post.<h2>Putin-Witkoff talks</h2>The announcement came on Wednesday as Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to brief him on his meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo a day earlier. The US envoy described the meeting with Zelensky as “productive”.A day before the announcement, US President Donald Trump said he had personally asked Putin to secure Hubbard’s release.“I’ve been talking to him at length. I've asked him to release him. Let's see what happens,” Trump told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.Speaking on Wednesday, Witkoff thanked Putin on behalf of Trump and the American public over Hubbard’s release, describing the Russian leader as a “humanitarian”.

US President Donald Trump says Stephen Hubbard, 74, has been released from Russian custody after his request to Vladimir Putin, adding that no prisoner swap was involved and Hubbard is returning home.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Oct 21) said that American citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released from Russian custody and was “on his way back home”. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed Hubbard’s release, saying that he was released from prison following his request to Russian President Vladimir Putin last week during a phone call. This comes after Putin first announced the release during a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison by a Russian court in October 2024 for “mercenary work” on behalf of Ukraine, a charge he denies. Trump says ‘no swap’ for Hubbard’s release Announcing his release by the Russian authorities, Trump said on Truth Social, “Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.” He further added that the United States was not required to give anything in return for Hubbard’s release and that there was “no swap” involved. “The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no “swap” necessary for this release.” Also read | Who is Stephen Hubbard? 74-year-old American released from Russian custody He also took a swipe at his predecessor Joe Biden, saying that his return should have taken place long before during the Biden administration, which he claimed “got nowhere in its negotiations with the Kremlin”. Trump also linked Hubbard’s release to recent suspensions of some US sanctions and tariffs on Russia. “If sanctions would have been placed, certainly those negotiations would have come to a complete and total halt,” he said in another post. Putin-Witkoff talks The announcement came on Wednesday as Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to brief him on his meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo a day earlier. The US envoy described the meeting with Zelensky as “productive”. A day before the announcement, US President Donald Trump said he had personally asked Putin to secure Hubbard’s release. “I’ve been talking to him at length. I've asked him to release him. Let's see what happens,” Trump told reporters in Washington on Tuesday. Speaking on Wednesday, Witkoff thanked Putin on behalf of Trump and the American public over Hubbard’s release, describing the Russian leader as a “humanitarian”.

US President Donald Trump says Stephen Hubbard, 74, has been released from Russian custody after his request to Vladimir Putin, adding that no prisoner swap was involved and Hubbard is returning home.

‘No swap’ needed: Trump takes credit for Stephen Hubbard’s release by Russia

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Who is Stephen Hubbard? 74-year-old American released from Russian custody

‘No swap’ needed: Trump takes credit for Stephen Hubbard’s release by Russia