Freed American endured four years of beatings, cellmates say

Stephen Hubbard spent 4.5 years in Russian jails, a duration that far exceeds the typical detention of foreign nationals in the region. According to two Ukrainian men who shared cells with him, the retired English teacher was subjected to physical violence and harsh conditions from the moment of his capture.

Hubbard was seized in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his partner. Russian forces occupied the city at the time, and Hubbard was accused of serving in Ukraine's armed forces. A Moscow court later convicted him and imposed a sentence of six years and 10 months. His detention in Novozybkov prison began in September 2022, where he was held in adjacent cells to Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, and Ihor Shyshko, a captured soldier.

Khyliuk stated that guards targeted Hubbard immediately after his arrival. He recalled officers asking for the American during inspections, using obscene language, and mocking him. Shyshko added that Hubbard was forced to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules he could not read. Shyshko witnessed guards striking Hubbard on the legs, back, and arms. He also reported that Hubbard was shocked with a stun gun, denied food and medical care, and kept in cold cells with broken windows.

The men described a daily routine at Novozybkov involving beatings, forced running, and stress positions. They noted that detainees huddled in bathrooms for warmth due to the bitter cold. Khyliuk observed Hubbard's health deteriorate over several months, with the American requiring frequent visits to the prison doctor. The two were transferred to Pakino prison, where Shyshko said Hubbard's condition worsened significantly. Shyshko described rotting skin on Hubbard's knees and feet and bandaged the injuries after a doctor refused to treat him.

Khyliuk alleged that prison staff hid Hubbard from International Red Cross visitors to conceal his state. The Red Cross stated it asks to see every individual when granted access and continues discussions with conflict parties on the issue. Khyliuk believed Hubbard was released in 2024 when he vanished from the prison. Khyliuk himself returned to Ukraine in August 2025 through a prisoner exchange, comparing the captivity to the Stalin era.

The Kremlin released Hubbard on October 23, 2026, the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Witkoff described Putin as a humanitarian, while President Donald Trump stated he had requested the release during a phone call the previous week. Khyliuk called the timing shameful political strategy, while Shyshko expressed hope that the perpetrators would face justice.

The two Ukrainians' accounts align with statements made by Hubbard's family regarding his treatment. They detailed specific instances of abuse, including sexual humiliation for the amusement of staff and the use of a dog to bite prisoners. Hubbard, 74, was released after 4.5 years of detention, a period marked by physical deterioration and systematic neglect according to his former cellmates.