American, 74, Freed From Russian Prison After Four Years of ‘Starvation and Beatings’ — Sister Reveals His Emotional Reaction

An American grandfather who spent more than four years behind bars in Russia has finally been released, with his sister revealing that he feared he might never make it home alive. Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, was freed on October 21, 2026, after being held in Russian custody since 2022. His release has brought relief to a family that spent years fearing the worst.

Hubbard’s younger sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, told the Associated Press that her brother did not initially realize he was being released. After being taken from prison to Moscow and placed aboard a plane, he reportedly saw an American flag and began to understand that he was finally leaving Russia. Fox said he had feared the journey might lead to his death rather than freedom. Once he realized what was happening, however, he reportedly began laughing with relief and repeatedly expressed disbelief that he was finally free.

The emotional reunion followed years of uncertainty about Hubbard’s condition and whereabouts. Fox said her brother had endured severe beatings and starvation during his imprisonment. She claimed he had been in good health when he was detained, but that his physical condition deteriorated while in custody. According to his sister, Ukrainian inmates sometimes helped him survive when he became too weak to manage on his own.

Hubbard was arrested in April 2022 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum, after Russian forces took control of the area. Russian prosecutors accused him of joining a Ukrainian territorial defense unit and fighting alongside Ukrainian forces following Russia’s full-scale invasion. In October 2024, a Moscow court convicted him of mercenary activity and sentenced him to six years and 10 months in prison following closed proceedings.

However, Hubbard’s family and legal representatives have consistently disputed the allegations. His U.S.-based lawyer said Hubbard denied participating in military activities, while his sister questioned the claim that her brother had served as a mercenary. The U.S. government under former President Joe Biden had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, reflecting Washington’s position that his imprisonment was unjust.

Hubbard’s release came after President Donald Trump said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to free the American during a telephone conversation earlier in October. The announcement coincided with a visit to St. Petersburg by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who held discussions with Putin about the war in Ukraine. Russian officials said the decision to release Hubbard was made on humanitarian grounds. Trump said the United States did not have to release another prisoner in exchange.

Before moving to Ukraine, Hubbard had served in the U.S. Air Force and worked as an English teacher overseas. He had previously lived in Japan for approximately 25 years and later retired to Cyprus before moving to Ukraine in 2014 to be with a partner. He remained in the country after their relationship ended and was still living there when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

For Fox, the release marks the end of years of fear and uncertainty. She said she had continued hoping and praying that her brother would return home, even when she worried she might never see him again. She has said he will likely live with her in Colorado, where the family hopes to reunite and help him recover from his ordeal.

Although Hubbard is now free, his sister’s account has raised fresh concerns about the treatment of detainees held during the war. His case also highlights the uncertainty faced by families whose relatives are imprisoned abroad, particularly when access to information and independent legal assistance is limited. For Hubbard and his loved ones, the immediate priority is his recovery and the chance to begin rebuilding a life after more than four years in captivity.

Source: The Mirror