Russia Frees US Citizen Stephen Hubbard Following Witkoff-Putin Talks

Russia has released 74-year-old US citizen Stephen Hubbard from detention, the BBC and The Jerusalem Post reported. According to Russian state media, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release during his talks in St. Petersburg with US envoy Steve Witkoff, noting that Hubbard had been transferred to Pulkovo Airport.

Hubbard, a Michigan native, was detained in Ukraine in 2024. Russia's judiciary alleged that he was fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine in the war, though his family strongly denied the accusations.

Further details regarding the terms of the release have not yet been disclosed.