Russia says it freed American Stephen Hubbard, 74, as Trump envoy meets with Putin
Putin said Hubbard was already at the airport as the Trump administration pressed Russia for the release of other detained Americans.
- On Tuesday, Russia released Stephen Hubbard following a visit to Petersburg by Steve Witkoff. The State Department previously designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.
- Russian prosecutors alleged that Hubbard fought for Ukraine after moving to Izyum in 2014. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, maintained the accusation was a lie.
- President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he raised the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed to the release during discussions with Witkoff in Petersburg.
- Hubbard, originally from Michigan, spent decades abroad as an English teacher before being captured by Russian forces. He was sentenced to almost seven years in a penal colony in 2024.
- Hubbard is the latest American freed from Russian detention following Robert Gilman's August release. Gilman was freed for humanitarian reasons amid severe health concerns.
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Russia frees imprisoned American teacher as Putin meets Trump’s envoy for Ukraine peace talks
A major development in US-Russia relations. Russia has released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.
Russian media announced the release of 74-year-old American Steven Hubbard, who had been held in Russia for more than four years, following a visit by US special envoy Steve Whitkov to St. Petersburg. The case of the retired Michigan educator was described by the State Department as the arbitrary detention of an American citizen, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he had raised the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. W…
US Citizen Stephen Hubbard Is Released by Russia as Donald Trump Claims There Was 'No Swap' Made
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American teacher detained in Russia for more than four years, has been released after Donald Trump said he asked Vladimir Putin directly for his freedom.
The release was announced on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, when Putin met with US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg.
After more than four years in prison, the American will return to his family; his case rekindles concern for other prisoners in Russia
Today, on Wednesday, Russia released its last American prisoner, classified by Washington as "illegally detained."
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