Photo: The White House / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Developing story
Russia released Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher jailed since 2022 on mercenary charges, on Oct. 21 during a visit by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. The White House said Trump asked Vladimir Putin for the release and that the U.S. gave up no one in return.
According to WESH, on Oct. 21, Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a Michigan native and former teacher who had spent more than four years behind bars on accusations that he had served as a mercenary fighting for Ukraine.
The release came during a visit to St. Petersburg by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him, Because of you, he’s going home to his family.
Putin answered that Hubbard was at Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg.
The White House said President Trump asked Putin for the release in a phone call last week. It said the U.S. was not required to give up anyone in return. Trump wrote on Truth Social: There was no ‘swap’ necessary for this release.
The charges
Hubbard was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison after a closed trial in 2024, according to WESH. Prosecutors said he signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after the February 2022 invasion and fought until his capture two months later.
His lawyer, Martin De Luca, told Reuters the charges were false, according to The Hill. The Biden administration designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.
Other Americans still held
Hubbard is the second American freed by Russia in about two months. Marine veteran Robert Gilman was released in August, WESH reported.
Other Americans remain jailed in Russia. Global Reach, which represents five of them, praised the release but called for the others to come home. Chief strategy officer Eric Lebson said those five families will struggle to understand why their loved ones were not included.
Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway on Oct. 20 before the Russia talks. The reports did not say when Hubbard will arrive in the United States.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Sources
What it means for you
- An American held in Russia since 2022 is on his way home to his family, according to Trump and Witkoff.
- The White House says the U.S. gave up no one in return, unlike previous releases.
- Five other American families represented by Global Reach still have loved ones jailed in Russia.
- Watch for Hubbard’s arrival in the U.S. and for any word on the other detainees.