Russia Frees Imprisoned American Stephen Hubbard Following Talks With US Envoy
The unilateral release marks the second freeing of an American detainee by Moscow as bilateral negotiations over the war in Ukraine proceed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of imprisoned American citizen Stephen Hubbard on Oct. 21, 2026. Putin made the statement during a meeting in St. Petersburg with United States special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Putin spoke during a televised meeting at the Constantine Palace. He said Hubbard had already arrived at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg after leaving custody.
The release occurred unilaterally without requiring a prisoner swap or concessions from the United States. The Kremlin described the decision to discharge Hubbard as an act granted on humanitarian grounds.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Putin released Hubbard at his personal request. Trump added that the United States did not surrender any prisoners in exchange.
Trump separately said Hubbard would remain in custody if the White House had not blocked or waived pending sanctions against Russia. In broadcast remarks, Witkoff called Putin a humanitarian and said Hubbard was returning home because of him.
Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired Michigan schoolteacher who lived in the eastern Ukrainian town of Izyum for several years. Russian authorities arrested him in April 2022 after Russian troops seized control of the town.
The Moscow City Court sentenced Hubbard to nearly seven years in prison in October 2024 following a closed trial. Russian prosecutors charged Hubbard with serving as a mercenary for Ukrainian forces. He was the first known American convicted on such charges in Russia.
The United States government had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained. His legal defense and international hostage advocacy organizations rejected the mercenary allegations as unfounded.
Hubbard spent over four years in Russian detention before his release. He is the second American freed by Russia in recent months, following the release of former Marine Robert Gilman in August 2026. Hostage advocacy organizations report that about two dozen Americans remain in Russian detention facilities.
Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg on his ninth diplomatic trip to Russia to negotiate proposals to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting followed United States decisions to ease select energy sanctions while applying pressure on Kyiv over its military tactics.
Hubbard departed Russia from Pulkovo Airport to return to the United States and reunite with his family. Witkoff and Russian officials are continuing talks regarding potential framework proposals to end the war.
