Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard, convicted of fighting on Ukraine's side; Witkoff calls Putin a "humanitarian"
Place: St PetersburgRegion: Other regions of Russiaautomatic summary
Where the versions diverge
Russian sources describe Hubbard as convicted of fighting on Ukraine's side and as having confessed, and put the US thanks to Russia first. The Ukrainian source calls him an elderly retired teacher whom the State Department designated as wrongfully detained and does not mention his service in the territorial defence. Independent outlets give both sides of the story and report criticism in the US of Witkoff's words calling Putin a "humanitarian".
What Russia reports
automatic summary Interfax relays Witkoff's words at the meeting with Putin: the US thanks Russia for freeing Stephen Hubbard "on behalf of the US president, of all Americans", and Trump had asked for it on humanitarian grounds; Putin confirmed that Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport. TASS in English, in a factbox, recalls that Hubbard was convicted of taking part in combat alongside Ukrainian forces, received six years and ten months in a penal colony in 2024 and confessed, and, citing Axios, writes that the release was part of a broader proposal discussed in Oslo.
“США благодарят Россию за освобождение американца Стивена Хаббарда”
“Hubbard was convicted in Russia for taking part in combat operations alongside Ukrainian forces.”
“He confessed to the charges.”
- Уиткофф выразил благодарность РФ за освобождение американца Хаббарда — Interfax, 21 October, 11:31
- FACTBOX: Release of American citizen Stephen Hubbard convicted in Russia — TASS (tass.com), 21 October, 14:53
What Ukraine reports
automatic summary Ukrainska Pravda, citing Yevropeiska Pravda and CNN, writes that Hubbard, held in Russia for more than four years, was freed amid Witkoff's visit; the 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan had been designated wrongfully detained by the State Department, and Trump said the day before that he had raised his case in a conversation with Putin.
“74-річний вчитель на пенсії зі штату Мічиган був визнаний Державним департаментом США незаконно затриманим”
- Росія відпустила ув’язненого 74-річного американця на тлі візиту Віткоффа — Ukrainska Pravda, 21 October, 11:50
What independent sources report
automatic summary Meduza writes that in the first days of the invasion Hubbard joined the territorial defence in the Kharkiv region, where he had lived for many years, was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 and in 2024 received six years and ten months in a penal colony on mercenary charges. The BBC reports that, according to Trump, no swap was needed, and that after the release Witkoff called Putin a "humanitarian", drawing criticism from lawmakers; according to CBS, Hubbard was in poor health.
“в апреле 2022 года попал в российский плен”
“you are a humanitarian also sir, and I salute that”
- Путин освободил гражданина США Стивена Хаббарда, воевавшего на стороне ВСУ — Meduza, 21 October, 11:08
- US citizen Stephen Hubbard freed by Russia as Trump envoy meets Putin — BBC News, 21 October, 11:22
Confirmation
Confirmation: confirmed by independent sources
The event is reported by international or exile independent outlets and no contradictions in the facts between the groups were detected. This does not mean the independent outlets verified every detail.
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