Russia releases 74-year-old U.S. man held captive for more than 4 years

Stephen Hubbard seen detained in Russia prior to his release in Oct. 2026.

A retired teacher held in a Russian penal colony for years after being arrest by Kremlin troops in April 2022 was released early Wednesday and was on his way back to the U.S., according President Trump after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff traveled to St. Petersburg to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Stephen Hubbard, a Michigan man, had been living in eastern Ukraine since 2014. He worked as an English teacher and developed a relationship with a Ukrainian woman. But after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Hubbard was arrested and charged with working as a mercenary and fighting with Ukrainian forces. His family has disputed the charges and the U.S. State Department considered Hubbard "wrongfully detained" by Russia. 

On Wednesday, the president posted a photo on Truth Social showing Hubbard aboard a U.S.-bound plane and surrounded by family members. "Should have been done a long time ago by Sleepy Joe Biden and the Dumocrats!" Trump added.

Stephen Hubbard and family members on their way back to the U.S.

Witkoff met with Putin and other Russian officials in an attempt to have Hubbard and other U.S. prisoners that State Department says are wrongfully detained set free. According to ABC News, the Russia-Ukraine war was also a topic of discussion during the meeting, with Witkoff expressing optimism that trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. might resume sometime soon. 

"Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family," Trump said in a post on Truth Social announcing Hubbard's release earlier on Wednesday. "The United States, out of respect for President Trump, was not required to give anything in return - an unprecedented situation for Russia. There was no 'swap' necessary for this release." WItkoff praised Putin for being a huminatarian in allowing the release. 

Hubbard's release comes about two months after Russia freed Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Marine veteran who spent more than four years incarcerated there. Trump said Gilman's releases was also made on a "humanitarian basis" and did not involved the U.S. exchanging any prisoners, Trump said. For more on Hubbard's release, watch the video below.