Russia Frees US Citizen Stephen Hubbard, 74, During Witkoff Visit

Stephen Hubbard, an American who had been held in Russia for more than four years, was released as US special envoy Steve Witkoff visited St. Petersburg, according to Evropeiska Pravda, citing CNN.

The 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan had been designated wrongfully detained by the US State Department. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he had raised Hubbard’s case in a conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Who Hubbard is

Before Witkoff’s trip, a US official said the envoy’s visit would likely include efforts to secure the release of the wrongfully detained American, reflecting President Trump’s steady commitment to bringing Americans home.

Hubbard lived abroad for decades, working as an English teacher. In 2014 he moved to Izium in Kharkiv region, which Russian forces occupied early in the war against Ukraine in 2022. According to Russian state media, Russian prosecutors claimed Hubbard fought on Ukraine’s side after signing a contract worth about $1,000 a month. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said the accusation is false.

Latest in a series of releases

Hubbard is the latest American freed from Russian custody. In August, Robert Gilman was released on humanitarian grounds amid serious concerns about his health. The Marine veteran was severely emaciated when he returned to the US on a special medical flight. An organisation advocating for him said Gilman had been tortured in Russian detention.

Witkoff was in St. Petersburg on 21 October for talks with Putin. A day earlier, talks were held in Oslo between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and US representatives Witkoff and Kushner. According to Axios, Kushner, who joined online, demanded that Ukraine stop strikes on Russian oil refineries.