Russia has released 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard after holding him in custody for more than four years. The former teacher from Michigan was freed following discussions in St. Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Stephen Hubbard, taken four years ago by Russia during the Biden Administration, was just released from prison, at the request of President Donald J. Trump, made directly to President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation last week. Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family.” Trump added that no prisoner “swaps” were negotiated with the Kremlin: “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.” U.S. officials later confirmed that Hubbard was placed on a flight home shortly after the meeting between Putin and Witkoff concluded.
Hubbard had been living in Izyum, Ukraine, since 2014 before Russian forces detained him in April 2022 during the early months of the full-scale invasion. In October 2024, a Moscow court sentenced him to nearly seven years in prison following a closed trial on mercenary charges. Russian prosecutors alleged that he had joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit for compensation, though his relatives and legal representatives strongly denied those claims, stating he was taken from his residence simply for being a U.S. passport holder.
The State Department officially designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained in early 2025, which prioritized federal diplomatic efforts to secure his freedom. Before his release, American diplomats noted that Russian authorities had repeatedly denied consular access to check on his condition. Hubbard was considered the last U.S. national in Russian custody to hold that specific diplomatic designation.
The resolution came after high-level bilateral talks, with U.S. leaders confirming that the departure was negotiated without engaging in a prisoner exchange. Special envoy Witkoff expressed gratitude to Russian leadership during the televised meeting in St. Petersburg, stating, “Because of you, he’s going home to his family.” Images released on social media later showed Hubbard traveling alongside American representatives on a transport aircraft.
While Hubbard’s return marks a significant diplomatic development between the two nations, several other American citizens remain incarcerated in Russian facilities. Human rights advocates and family members of remaining detainees continue to petition the State Department to expand formal wrongful detention classifications and negotiate additional releases.
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