Russia Releases Imprisoned American Teacher Stephen Hubbard

Russia has released 74-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard from custody following a meeting in St. Petersburg between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump confirmed the release on Wednesday, stating that Vladimir Putin agreed to free Stephen Hubbard following a direct request made during a telephone conversation last week. CBS News reported that the release was announced during high-level talks in St. Petersburg focused on the Ukraine war. Russian state news agencies indicated that Hubbard was at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport following the decision.

Video footage of the meeting showed Envoy Witkoff thanking Putin for the release and calling the Russian leader a "humanitarian." NBC News reported that Hubbard, a retired teacher from Michigan, had been accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, a charge he denied. The U.S. government had previously designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.

On his Truth Social platform, President Trump claimed that no prisoner swap was necessary and the release was done "out of respect." However, CBS News noted the president also suggested the release would not have occurred if the White House had not blocked new sanctions against Russia from taking effect last week. Hubbard is reportedly in poor health and is expected to be flown to a military hospital in Texas for treatment.

While Hubbard was the last American formally declared wrongfully detained by the State Department, CBS News reports that as many as 10 other Americans remain in Russian custody. Official social media accounts later shared a photograph showing Hubbard on an aircraft after his release.

Background

Stephen Hubbard was detained in Ukraine in 2022. While CBS News reported he had been jailed for more than four years, NBC News and other outlets noted his detention began in 2022 during the conflict in Ukraine.