RismadarVoice Reporters
October 21, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the release of 74-year-old American citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022 over allegations of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Putin disclosed the development on Wednesday during a meeting with United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, where both officials were holding discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
According to Russian state media, Hubbard had been released from custody and transferred to Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg ahead of his expected departure from Russia.
Witkoff also acknowledged the release and thanked Putin for the decision.
Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher from Michigan, was arrested in April 2022 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum following Russia’s invasion.
Russian prosecutors alleged that he had served with Ukrainian forces and operated a military checkpoint.
He was subsequently convicted of mercenary activities during a closed-door trial in 2024 and sentenced to nearly seven years in prison.
However, Hubbard disputed the allegations through his United States-based lawyer, Martin De Luca, who maintained that he had not participated in combat or belonged to any military unit.
Washington had officially designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, making his release a significant development in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that he had personally appealed to Putin to secure Hubbard’s freedom.
The release coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv.
Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday.
The discussions focused on possible arrangements for ending the conflict, including security guarantees, ceasefire proposals and opportunities for further negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Oslo talks as positive, saying Ukrainian officials had presented proposals for consideration by the Russian leadership.
Zelenskyy also welcomed the restoration of American intelligence support, particularly early-warning information used to protect civilians from Russian missile attacks.
Despite the diplomatic engagements, major disagreements remain between Russia and Ukraine over territorial control and the conditions necessary for a lasting settlement.
Moscow continues to insist on territorial concessions, while Kyiv maintains that any agreement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and provide credible security guarantees.
Russian and Ukrainian forces have also continued exchanging attacks, underscoring the challenges facing the latest peace initiative.
Hubbard’s release represents a diplomatic development, but no comprehensive agreement to end the war has been announced.
As of publication, his release from Russian custody had been acknowledged by both sides, although confirmation of his arrival in the United States was still pending.
