US special envoy Steve Witkoff will discuss the possible release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard from Russian detention with President Vladimir Putin this week. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher from Michigan, served in the US Air Force and National Guard, and taught English in Japan for 25 years before moving to Ukraine in 2014.
Hubbard was captured after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He was detained in Izyum, which was captured by Russia and later retaken by Ukraine. Russian media reported that Hubbard was arrested in April 2022 for allegedly working at a Ukrainian military checkpoint, but the details surrounding his capture remain unclear. His sister recognized him in a questioning video, and another video showed him being mistreated, though its timing and location could not be verified.
In October 2024, a Moscow court sentenced Hubbard to nearly seven years in prison, convicting him of being a mercenary. Prosecutors accused him of joining a Ukrainian defense unit, but his lawyer claims the charges are false and he was merely taken from his home.
In January 2025, the US government designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, allowing them to seek his release. The State Department noted that Russia has denied US officials consular access, and reports indicate that Hubbard has been moved between multiple detention centers in Russia.
With information from Reuters
