Russia on Wednesday released Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher who had been serving a seven-year prison sentence on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. The release was confirmed by President Trump on Truth Social, following a meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, saying Hubbard could now return to his family. Trump emphasized that the United States made no concessions, writing, "The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return – an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no 'swap' necessary for this release."
Who is Stephen Hubbard?
Hubbard, a retired educator from Big Rapids, Michigan, served in the U.S. Air Force and National Guard, according to military records cited by The New York Times in 2025. He lived in Japan and Cyprus before moving to Izyum, Ukraine, in 2014. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, told Reuters that she last spoke with him in September 2021.
Capture and sentencing
Russian prosecutors alleged that Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military at the start of the 2022 invasion and fought alongside Ukrainian troops. State media claimed he manned a checkpoint. He was captured two months after the invasion began and later put on trial. The Biden administration had designated him as wrongfully detained.
Prosecutors accused him of joining a Ukrainian territorial defense unit, receiving training, weapons, and ammunition, and being promised $1,000 a month. His lawyer, Martin De Luca, called the charges false, saying Hubbard was detained at a house in Izyum and had no military involvement. Ukrainian forces recaptured the city in September 2022. Russian state media reported that Hubbard pleaded guilty, but his sister questioned that, noting his pro-Russian views and age.
Second release of an American
Hubbard's release follows that of Marc Fogel, an American teacher freed in February after serving a 14-year sentence for carrying medical marijuana. Fogel's sister had expressed frustration that he was not part of an earlier large prisoner exchange involving several countries, which was the largest since the Cold War and included journalist Evan Gershkovich.
National security adviser Mike Waltz called Fogel's release "a show of good faith from the Russians and a sign we are moving in the right direction to end the brutal and terrible war in Ukraine."
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over its dealings with Moscow, including warnings from House Speaker Johnson about sanctions waiver risks. Critics, including Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, have rebuked Trump as morally blind on the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has escalated pressure on Trump over potential concessions to Russia.
Hubbard's release marks another step in the administration's efforts to secure the return of Americans detained abroad, though questions remain about the broader implications for U.S.-Russia relations.
