Coverage dated October 19, 2026 to October 22, 2026

Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard captured in occupied Ukraine

Headline from KRDO, from the development of Oct 21, 2026

Newest development Oct 22, 2026 · 3 reportsFreed Russian prisoner Stephen Hubbard has returned to American soil

By Jennifer Hansler, Ivana Kottasová, CNN (CNN) — Stephen Hubbard, an American who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, was heading to the US late Wednesday after he was freed by Moscow following a direct plea from President Donald …

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Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Trump teases release of Stephen Hubbard, American man jailed in Russia

    Headline from The Hill ·

  2. Names this update

    Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard captured in occupied Ukraine

    Headline from KRDO ·

  3. Newest

    Freed Russian prisoner Stephen Hubbard has returned to American soil

    Headline from WSVN Miami ·

3 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

118 articles, oldest first.

  1. Independent Journal Review

    Russia Releases 74-Year-Old American Stephen Hubbard (opens Independent Journal Review)

    Published

    Independent Journal Review's feed description

    President Trump said he has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, a Michigan teacher serving a prison sentence in Russia after being convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

  2. Just the News

    Trump hints at potential release of American Stephen Hubbard, who is jailed in Russia (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    The president said he and his administration are working to bring Stephen Hubbard back to the United States, after Russian forces detained him in Ukraine during Russia's 2022 invasion of the country.

  3. The Hill

    Trump teases release of Stephen Hubbard, American man jailed in Russia (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    President Trump on Tuesday said he’s asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release jailed American Stephen Hubbard, teasing that a resolution could happen within a few days. “Remember that question for a couple of days from now,” Trump said when asked about reports claiming the U.S.

  4. Just the News

    Russia frees 74-year-old retired Michigan teacher in latest gesture to Trump (opens Just the News)

    Published

    Just the News's feed description

    Stephen Hubbard was the oldest American held in Russia and the only one in Russia currently designated by the U.S. as wrongfully detained.

  5. NBC4 Washington

    Russia frees American teacher Stephen Hubbard as Trump envoy meets with Putin (opens NBC4 Washington)

    Published

    NBC4 Washington's feed description

    FILE – In this photo taken from video released by the Moscow City Court Press Service, Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine against Russia stands in a glass cage during a court session in the Moscow City court in Moscow, Russia, Oct. 7, 2024.

  6. KRDO

    Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard captured in occupied Ukraine (opens KRDO)

    Published

    KRDO's feed description

    By Jennifer Hansler, Ivana Kottasová, CNN (CNN) — Stephen Hubbard, an American who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, was heading to the US late Wednesday after he was freed by Moscow following a direct plea from President Donald …

  7. ABC 17 Mid-Missouri

    Russia frees 74-year-old American after visit from Trump envoy, state media reports (opens ABC 17 Mid-Missouri)

    Published

    ABC 17 Mid-Missouri's feed description

    By Jennifer Hansler, CNN (CNN) — Stephen Hubbard, an American detained in Russia for more than four years, has been released after a visit by US special envoy Steve Witkoff to St. Petersburg, Russian state media reports.

  8. Local News 8

    Russia frees 74-year-old American Stephen Hubbard, US envoy Steve Witkoff says (opens Local News 8)

    Published

    Local News 8's feed description

    By Jennifer Hansler, Ivana Kottasová, CNN (CNN) — Russia has freed an American imprisoned in Russia for more than four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  9. KAAL Rochester

    Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after over 4 years in prison, during a visit by US envoy (opens KAAL Rochester)

    Published

    KAAL Rochester's feed description

    Russia has released a American who was jailed for over four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release Wednesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  10. Bangor Daily News

    Russia releases detained American Stephen Hubbard during a visit by Trump administration envoy (opens Bangor Daily News)

    Published

    Bangor Daily News's feed description

    Russia on Wednesday released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  11. MyNorthwest

    Russia releases imprisoned American man, US envoy Witkoff says on visit to St. Petersburg (opens MyNorthwest)

    Published

    MyNorthwest's feed description

    Russia has released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  12. KAAL Rochester

    Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after over 4 years behind bars (opens KAAL Rochester)

    Published

    KAAL Rochester's feed description

    Russia has released a American who was jailed for over four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release Wednesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  13. KAAL Rochester

    Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after over 4 years behind bars, during a visit by US envoy (opens KAAL Rochester)

    Published

    KAAL Rochester's feed description

    Russia has released a American who was jailed for over four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced the release Wednesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  14. BBC News

    Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, state media reports (opens BBC News)

    Published

    BBC News's feed description

    Stephen Hubbard has been taken to Pulkovo Airport, Putin said during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

  15. NBC News

    Russia says it freed American Stephen Hubbard, 74, as Trump envoy meets with Putin (opens NBC News)

    Published

    NBC News's feed description

    American Stephen Hubbard was released by Russia on Wednesday, state news agencies reported, the latest sign of warmer ties with the Kremlin as Washington pressures Kyiv to agree to a deal that ends Moscow’s war.

  16. WFLA

    Russia releases imprisoned American man, US envoy Witkoff says (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    Russia has released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  17. New York Post

    Russia frees imprisoned US citizen Stephen Hubbard after plea from Trump (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Stephen Hubbard, of Michigan, was sentenced after a closed trial in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison.

  18. Deutsche Welle

    Russia frees jailed American Stephen Hubbard, US envoy says (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    After the meeting, Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American taken captive by Russian forces years ago in Ukraine.

  19. Deutsche Welle

    Russia frees jailed American Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff talks (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, an American taken captive by Russian forces years ago in Ukraine.

  20. Fox News

    Russia releases American teacher imprisoned on Ukraine mercenary charges after Trump pressed Putin (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    American Stephen Hubbard has been released from Russian custody after Trump urged Putin to free the retired teacher imprisoned on Ukraine mercenary charges.

  21. WOOD TV8

    Russia releases imprisoned Michigan man, US envoy Witkoff says on visit to St. Petersburg (opens WOOD TV8)

    Published

    WOOD TV8's feed description

    Russia has released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

  22. ABC 7 San Francisco

    Detained American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia as Witkoff meets Putin (opens ABC 7 San Francisco)

    Published

    ABC 7 San Francisco's feed description

    President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff landed in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on Wednesday morning, a Kremlin aide confirmed.

  23. CBS News

    American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia, Steve Witkoff says (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen jailed in Russia since 2022, has been released, according to U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

  24. Wall Street Journal

    Russia Releases Captured American in Sign of Warming Ties (opens Wall Street Journal)

    Published

    Wall Street Journal's feed description

    Stephen Hubbard had been living in Ukraine for years at the time of his detention in 2022.

  25. The Kyiv Independent

    Russia releases US prisoner Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff visit (opens The Kyiv Independent)

    Published

    The Kyiv Independent's feed description

    Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced the release of Hubbard during his meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

Showing the first 25 of 66 headlines. ·

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.