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Freed American teacher describes moments leading to release from Russian prison

Retired Michigan teacher Stephen Hubbard said he only believed he would be freed from a Russian prison when guards issued him new clothes and led him toward the exit.

FTMQ News, written by our newsroom31 October 2026 at 00:010 views

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Picture: The Guardian

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, made his first public comments on Friday since his recent release from a Russian prison, according to the Guardian. Hubbard said he had previously been told multiple times that he would be released, but he never trusted the statements because he believed that actions speak louder than words. [1]

The Guardian reported that Hubbard only believed he was going somewhere when officials moved him from Moscow to Saint Petersburg. He stated that his impending freedom finally felt real when guards gave him new clothes and escorted him toward the exit of the building. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Hubbard spent more than four years in a Russian prison after being sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. United States President Donald Trump pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to free him, leading to his release without a prisoner swap before he was flown to San Antonio for medical evaluation. [4][5]

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In short

Stephen Hubbard, 74, gave his first public comments on Friday following his release from a Russian prison.
Hubbard said he only believed he was being freed when guards gave him new clothes and led him to the exit.
He spent more than four years in Russian custody after a 2024 conviction on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

[1]Retired Michigan teacher released from Russian prison believed he would never be freedThe Guardian, 3h ago (the report this story comes from)

Background

[2]Michigan Wolverines football on Wikipedia
[3]List of Americans wrongfully imprisoned or detained abroad on Wikipedia
[4]American Stephen Hubbard freed after four years in Russian prison FTMQ News, 7d ago
[5]Russia releases American teacher Stephen Hubbard following US pressure FTMQ News, 9d ago

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 5 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

Earlier reports of ours on the same people and subjects.

American Stephen Hubbard freed after four years in Russian prisonTop Stories, 7d ago
Russia releases American teacher Stephen Hubbard following US pressureTop Stories, 9d ago
Former general accuses Donald Trump of taking Russian side on UkraineTop Stories, 9d ago
Russian missiles strike Kyiv despite signals on resuming peace talksTop Stories, 9d ago
Social media claims false shipment after Trump Russian diesel dealTop Stories, 14d ago

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