Russia Releases American Stephen Hubbard After More Than Four Years In Detention

Russia Releases American Stephen Hubbard After More Than Four Years in Detention Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American retired teacher who spent more than four years in Russian custody after being accused of fighting alongside Ukrainian forces. Hubbard’s release was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with United States special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Witkoff, who was visiting Russia for diplomatic discussions, thanked Putin on behalf of President Donald Trump and the American people for the decision to free Hubbard. “The president sends his thanks, our whole nation sends their thanks, because of Stephen Hubbard,” Witkoff said during the meeting, according to reports. Putin disclosed that Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. Russian officials said the release followed a request from Trump, who had raised the American’s case with the Russian leader. Hubbard’s release followed renewed diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to secure the freedom of Americans detained in Russia. Trump said on Tuesday that he had discussed Hubbard’s case with Putin and asked for his release.Before Witkoff’s visit, a US official said the envoy was expected to pursue efforts to secure the freedom of the American, who had been formally designated by the US State Department as wrongfully detained. Russian officials described the release as a goodwill gesture. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had taken Hubbard’s poor health into account when deciding to free him. The announcement did not include detailed information about the arrangements for Hubbard’s return to the United States. Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, had lived abroad for decades, working as an English-language teacher before moving to the eastern Ukrainian city of Izium in 2014. Russian forces occupied Izium during the early stages of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian prosecutors alleged that Hubbard had signed a contract to fight for the Ukrainian military in exchange for monthly payment and had participated in the conflict as a mercenary. He was convicted following a closed trial in Moscow in 2024 and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison. However, Hubbard’s family disputed the allegations. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said the accusations against him were untrue. The US government maintained that he was wrongfully detained and had sought his release. Hubbard’s freedom was secured through diplomatic engagement, with no prisoner exchange announced in connection with his release. His case is the latest involving an American citizen freed from Russian detention amid continuing efforts by Washington and Moscow to address the imprisonment of US nationals. In August 2026, American Marine veteran Robert Gilman was also released from Russian custody on humanitarian grounds amid serious concerns about his health. Despite the releases, other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia, with families and advocacy organisations continuing to press for diplomatic action on their behalf. Hubbard’s release comes at a sensitive time in negotiations surrounding Russia’s war against Ukraine. Witkoff’s visit to St. Petersburg followed diplomatic discussions involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Norway, where security, energy and economic issues were discussed. The US envoy’s engagement with Putin forms part of broader diplomatic efforts as Washington seeks to influence the course of the conflict and address outstanding bilateral issues. Although Hubbard’s release represents a significant development for his family, it remains unclear whether the decision will lead to further releases of detained Americans or signal a broader improvement in US-Russia relation.