Russia has freed American Stephen Hubbard, who has been imprisoned since 2022, President Donald Trump said Oct. 21.
Hubbard, a 73-year-old retired teacher, was living in Ukraine in February 2022 when Russia invaded. He was captured and taken to Moscow, where he was sentenced to nearly seven years after being convicted of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. He was designated wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department in January 2025.
“Stephen is on his way back home and will soon be with his family,” Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social. “Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Hubbard was released and was at the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, in comments published by Russian State Media, according to Reuters. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is in St. Petersburg for talks on ending the Ukraine war.
U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard appears in a court hearing, in Moscow, Russia, on Oct. 7, 2024, in this still image from archive video.
Trump said in his post that the United States didn’t make a “swap” for Hubbard’s release and chided the Biden administration for failing to secure the release.
USA TODAY has reached out to the State Department and the White House for comment.
The news comes a day after Trump hinted he was nearing a deal with Putin on Hubbard’s release.
Previously: Trump suggests he is nearing deal with Putin to free detained American
“I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I’ve been talking to him at length,” Trump said on Oct. 20 from the Oval Office. “It’s time to get Mr. Hubbard back.”
In recent days, Trump has eased sanctions on Moscow and said the United States would import Russian diesel to lower fuel prices. The moves drew bipartisan criticism that Trump was favoring Putin over Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
More: Trump defends easing sanctions on Russia amid rising anger in Congress
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russia releases detained American Stephen Hubbard, Trump says
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