Who Is Stephen Hubbard, The Man Trump Asked To Be Released?

A 74-year-old American man was living in Ukraine with his partner.

Russia has released 74-year-old American Steven Hubbard, who spent more than four years in prison in Russia on charges of fighting on Ukraine’s side in the war. He was released on October 21 during a visit by U.S. President’s Special Envoy Steve Whitcroft to St. Petersburg, where he met with Putin, according to NBC News (translation by Charter97.org).

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously stated that he personally asked Putin to release Hubbard. According to him, no prisoner exchange was required. However, Trump later linked the American’s release to his decision to suspend the imposition of new sanctions against Russia.

Hubbard grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan; served in the U.S. Air Force and the National Guard; and earned a master’s degree in English. He then taught in Japan for about 25 years, lived in Cyprus, and in 2014 moved to Ukraine to be with his partner. According to his sister Patricia Hubbard Fox, he lived on a monthly pension of about $300 and taught English online when he needed money.

Russian military forces detained him in April 2022 when they captured Izyum. In 2024, a closed-door court sentenced the American to nearly seven years in prison for mercenary activity. The Russian side claimed that he had fought on the side of Ukraine, but Hubbard denied the charges. His attorney Martin De Luca said that his client had not participated in combat. According to his sister, this was also confirmed by three former Ukrainian prisoners of war who were incarcerated with him.

Washington recognized Hubbard as a U.S. citizen unlawfully detained. Due to his deteriorating health following his release, he is scheduled to be transported to Texas for treatment at a military hospital.

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