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Russia Jailed a 74-Year-Old American Teacher as a “Mercenary”—Now Putin Wants Credit for Freeing Him
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Russian leader Vladimir Putin has announced the release of 74-year-old American English teacher Stephen Hubbard, who spent more than four years in Russian custody after being captured in Ukraine and accused of fighting as a mercenary—allegations his defense lawyer disputed.
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According to The Moscow Times on October 21, Putin announced Hubbard’s release during a meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in St. Petersburg. Putin said the American was already at Pulkovo Airport, preparing to return to the United States. Witkoff thanked Putin for the decision.
The announcement followed a personal request from Trump, who said on October 20 that he had raised Hubbard’s case with Putin and asked for his release.
Hubbard, an English teacher who previously spent approximately 25 years working in Japan, moved to Ukraine after living in Cyprus. He settled in Izium, Kharkiv region, with his Ukrainian partner and taught English online.
Russian forces captured him in April 2022, during their occupation of the city. Moscow subsequently accused Hubbard of joining Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Russian prosecutors alleged that he had signed a military contract in February 2022 and received a promise of at least $1,000 per month to fight for Ukraine. However, Hubbard’s defense lawyer disputed the allegations, maintaining that the American had neither participated in combat nor served in a Ukrainian military unit.
Despite those objections, a Moscow court sentenced Hubbard to six years and ten months in prison on mercenary charges in October 2024. Hubbard pleaded guilty during the proceedings, although his lawyer continued to deny that he had fought for Ukraine.
Former Ukrainian prisoners of war who were detained alongside Hubbard also reported that Russian personnel repeatedly abused him because of his American citizenship.
According to their accounts, Hubbard was beaten, forced to stand for extended periods, deprived of adequate food, and denied proper medical care. In January 2025, the US government formally designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, challenging the legitimacy of his imprisonment.
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