American Stephen Hubbard freed after four years in Russian prison

United States citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released after spending more than four years in a Russian prison. CBS News and the New York Post reported that President Donald Trump confirmed the release on Wednesday. The New York Post reported that Hubbard was taken to San Antonio for an evaluation after his release. [1][2]

Hubbard did not realize he was being freed until he saw an American flag after being put aboard an aircraft, according to the New York Post and AP News. His younger sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said in an interview in San Antonio that her brother did not know why he was moved from prison to Moscow and thought he might be going to his death. She added that he was in disbelief and was laughing from relief at being free. [1][6]

CBS News reported that the release was announced during a meeting in Saint Petersburg between United States special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Trump stated that Vladimir Putin agreed to release Hubbard at his request without requiring a swap, according to CBS News. Witkoff described Putin as a humanitarian following the agreement. [2]

Hubbard was deemed wrongfully detained by the United States after being accused of fighting for Ukraine. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Hubbard is a retired American teacher who was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. [2][10]