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Russia releases American teacher imprisoned on mercenary charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher held on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher from Michigan who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. US envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release following a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Wednesday.

Hubbard was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison after a closed trial. Prosecutors said he had signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, and that he fought alongside them until being captured two months later. The US government under the Biden administration had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.

Witkoff thanked Putin for the release, saying 'Because of you, he's going home to his family.' Putin responded that Hubbard was at St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport following his release. President Donald Trump had publicly pressed Putin for Hubbard's release earlier in the week, telling reporters 'I've been talking to President Putin about Mr Hubbard. I've asked him to release him.' Witkoff has been attempting to steer Russia and Ukraine towards a settlement to end the war.

Russia releases American teacher imprisoned on mercenary charges
Image: News4Jax

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In this story: Stephen Hubbard · Steve Witkoff · Vladimir Putin · Donald Trump · Russia · Ukraine · Michigan · St Petersburg

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem