TL;DR
Russian President Vladimir Putin said U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard had been released from Russian custody and was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. Hubbard was sentenced in October 2024 on mercenary charges after joining a Ukrainian territorial defense unit; details of the release and his onward travel were not provided.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 21 that U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard had been released from Russian custody and was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. Hubbard, who was convicted in Russia of mercenary activity after joining a Ukrainian territorial defense unit, had been serving a prison sentence; Putin made the announcement at the start of a meeting with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.
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Putin said Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport when he announced the release. The report did not specify when Hubbard left prison, whether he was traveling to the United States, or what arrangements had been made for his departure from Russia. The announcement came during Witkoff’s visit and meeting with Putin, but the account does not establish what role, if any, the envoy played in securing Hubbard’s release.
Hubbard was 72 at the time of his sentencing. A Russian court sentenced him in October 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison on mercenary charges. According to the account, Hubbard had lived for many years in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine and joined its territorial defense in the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Russian forces captured him in April 2022.
The New York Times reported the day before Putin’s announcement that Witkoff would seek Hubbard’s release during his trip to Russia. The newspaper said the effort was intended to “show the benefits of deal-making” with Putin. That report described a planned effort; it does not, by itself, confirm the details of negotiations or explain how the release was reached.
A Release During Witkoff’s Visit
Hubbard’s release is a significant development for his family and for U.S. officials seeking the return of Americans held in Russia. His case also became part of the public agenda around Witkoff’s visit: the announcement was made at the opening of his meeting with Putin, after reporting that the envoy would raise Hubbard’s case.
The timing offers a visible example of a U.S. representative pursuing an individual release in direct talks with the Russian president. However, the available information does not show whether the case was resolved through a broader agreement, whether any concessions were involved, or whether the announcement signals a change in how Russia handles other U.S. citizens in custody. Those questions matter because one release alone cannot establish a wider policy shift.
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Hubbard’s Case in Russia
Hubbard’s case began after he joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in the Kharkiv region in the early days of the Russian invasion. Russian forces captured him in April 2022. In October 2024, a Russian court convicted him of mercenary activity and imposed a sentence of six years and 10 months.
The New York Times’ report on October 20 put the case in the context of Witkoff’s planned discussions in Russia, saying he would try to obtain Hubbard’s release. Putin’s announcement the following day confirmed that Hubbard had been released, according to the Russian president, but the account does not provide a detailed chronology of contacts between the U.S. envoy and Russian officials.
“Hubbard is already at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg.”
— Vladimir Putin, as reported by Meduza
Release Terms and Travel Details
Putin’s announcement, as reported, is the available confirmation that Hubbard had been released and was at Pulkovo Airport. The account does not say when the release occurred, whether Hubbard had boarded a flight, where he was headed, or whether U.S. officials independently confirmed his status. It also does not detail the legal or diplomatic arrangements behind the release.
It remains unclear whether Hubbard’s release was connected to any wider U.S.-Russia agreement or involved conditions. The reporting supplied does not describe his health, his plans after leaving Russia, or whether further official statements are expected from either government.
Confirmation of Hubbard’s Departure
The next immediate development to watch for is confirmation of Hubbard’s departure from Russia and his arrival at his intended destination. Further statements from U.S. officials, Putin, or Witkoff could clarify how the release was arranged and whether the envoy’s discussions directly led to it.
Until those details are provided, the confirmed account remains limited: Putin announced Hubbard’s release and said he was at Pulkovo Airport. The available report does not establish the terms of the release or what diplomatic steps, if any, follow.
Key Questions
Who is Stephen Hubbard?
Stephen Hubbard is a U.S. citizen who had lived for many years in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. According to the report, he joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit after Russia’s invasion began and was captured by Russian forces in April 2022.
Why was Hubbard imprisoned in Russia?
A Russian court convicted Hubbard of mercenary activity and sentenced him in October 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison. The source report describes the conviction and sentence but does not provide further court-record details.
Where was Hubbard after his release?
Putin said Hubbard was at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg. The report did not confirm whether he had boarded a flight or where he was traveling.
Did Steve Witkoff secure Hubbard’s release?
The New York Times had reported that Witkoff planned to seek Hubbard’s release during his Russia trip. Putin announced the release at the start of a meeting with the envoy, but the available reporting does not confirm the specific role Witkoff played or the terms of any discussions.
Source: rss
