Russia Releases American Teacher Stephen Hubbard After Four Years in Custody

WHO:

NBC News Politics - Stephen Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired American teacher from Michigan.

NBC News - Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy, thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin after Hubbard’s release.

Fox News - Russian prosecutors accused Hubbard of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine; Hubbard denies the accusation, and his family has denied it.

NY Post - Trump said he personally requested Hubbard’s release from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fox News - President Donald Trump said, “I've been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I've been talking to him at length. I've asked him to release him. Let's see what happens.”

WHAT:

NBC News Politics - Russia released Hubbard after detaining him in a Russian prison for more than four years; he was on his way back to the United States.

Fox News - Hubbard had been sentenced to almost seven years in prison.

Fox News - A Moscow City Court verdict announcement was shown on a screen in a hall during Hubbard’s trial.

NY Post - Trump described Hubbard’s release as “unprecedented” and criticized President Biden.

WHERE:

NBC News Politics - Hubbard is from Michigan and was detained in Russia.

NBC News - Hubbard was detained in Ukraine, according to the article.

Fox News - Hubbard’s trial took place in Moscow.

WHEN:

NBC News Politics - Hubbard was detained for more than four years.

NBC News - The article says Hubbard was detained in 2022.

Fox News - Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022; prosecutors said Hubbard signed a contract with Ukraine’s military after that and was captured two months later.

Fox News - Hubbard was sentenced in 2024.

Fox News - The court verdict announcement was shown on October 7, 2024.

NY Post - Trump said he requested Hubbard’s release during a phone call with Putin last week.

WHY:

Fox News - Russian prosecutors said Hubbard fought alongside the Ukrainian military after signing a contract with it.

NBC News - Hubbard was charged with fighting as a mercenary, which he denies.

HOW:

NY Post - Trump said he personally asked Putin to release Hubbard during a phone call.

Fox News - Prosecutors said Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military and fought alongside its forces until he was captured.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 13:11 UTC)

Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, after detaining him for more than four years, and he is on his way back to the United States. Russian prosecutors accused Hubbard of fighting for Ukraine as a mercenary, a charge he denies, and he had been sentenced to almost seven years in prison. President Trump said he personally asked Vladimir Putin to release Hubbard and called the release “unprecedented,” while U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Putin.