Russia frees US citizen Steven Hubbard, jailed for mercenary activity, at Trump's request
In short
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on 21 October that US citizen Steven Hubbard, convicted in Russia of mercenary activity, had been released and was at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. US special envoy Steve Witkoff thanked Russia, and Donald Trump said the US handed no one to Russia in exchange.
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Putin said on 21 October that US citizen Steven Hubbard, who fought on Ukraine's side and was convicted in Russia of mercenary activity, had been released. He made the statement at the start of a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and said Hubbard was already at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. Witkoff thanked Putin and Russia for the release. Trump said Hubbard was returning home and would soon be reunited with his family, and that Moscow had asked for nothing from Washington in return. [ 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 32 ]
The release had been signalled the day before. On 19 October Trump announced the early release of a US citizen detained in Russia without naming him. On 20 October he told reporters at the White House that he had discussed Hubbard with Putin at length and had asked for his release. Kommersant reported that this was in a recent telephone conversation. Trump also said that only he could make such a deal with Russia. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said the relevant Russian and US agencies were in dialogue on the release of prisoners. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Peskov said Putin decided to free Hubbard on humanitarian grounds. He added that contacts on exchanges between the Russian and US special services continue on a permanent basis. TASS quoted him as calling the release a goodwill gesture. Trump said the US had handed no one to Russia in exchange for Hubbard. TASS also reported Trump as saying that sanctions against Russia would have derailed the release. [ 26 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 36 ]
Hubbard, a Michigan native, had lived in Ukraine since 2014. According to RIA Novosti and Interfax, he signed a contract with the Izyum territorial defence battalion in February 2022 and served until Russian forces detained him in April 2022. In October 2024 the Moscow City Court sentenced him to six years and ten months in a penal colony, and he admitted guilt. [ 6 , 8 ]
Hubbard's lawyer, Martin De Luca, told Radio RBC that the defence was awaiting official confirmation that he was on his way home. Hubbard's son, Iosif Coleman, who described himself as an Orthodox priest, thanked Putin for the release. Meduza noted that the last time Putin freed a US citizen was in August, when Robert Gilman was handed over. It added that, according to rights defenders, at least four US citizens remain in Russian prisons. [ 14 , 18 , 35 , 38 ]
Why it matters
The release follows Trump's public statements that he had asked Putin for it, and Russian and US officials were quoted on contacts over prisoner exchanges. Meduza reported that rights defenders count at least four US citizens still held in Russian prisons.
Key facts
- Putin said at the start of a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff that Hubbard had been released and was at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. [ 14 , 16 ]
- Witkoff thanked Russia for the release of Hubbard at the meeting with Putin. [ 11 , 12 , 17 ]
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin decided to free Hubbard on humanitarian grounds. [ 22 , 25 , 27 ]
- Trump said the US handed no one to Russia in exchange for Hubbard. [ 26 , 33 ]
- In October 2024 the Moscow City Court sentenced Hubbard to six years and ten months in a penal colony on a mercenary charge; he pleaded guilty. [ 6 , 8 ]
- On 20 October Trump told reporters at the White House that he had asked Putin to release Hubbard. [ 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russia released Hubbard, and Putin said he was at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg. [ 13 , 14 , 16 ]
- Witkoff thanked Putin for the release. [ 11 , 12 , 17 ]
- Peskov said the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds. [ 22 , 25 , 27 ]
- Trump said the US handed no one to Russia in exchange for Hubbard. [ 26 , 33 , 34 ]
- Trump said he had asked Putin to release Hubbard. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 33 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Hubbard has already left Russia for the US. Putin said he was at Pulkovo airport; his lawyer Martin De Luca said the defence was awaiting official confirmation that he was on his way home; Trump said he was returning home.
- Whether any concessions or exchange were involved. Trump said the US gave Russia nothing in return and that Moscow asked for nothing; Peskov said contacts on exchanges between the special services continue on a permanent basis, but that in this case Putin decided on humanitarian grounds.
- What Hubbard was convicted of. Most outlets say mercenary activity; an RBC summary of Trump's post on Truth Social describes him as convicted of fraud.
- Hubbard's age. RIA Novosti calls him 73; Interfax and Meduza give 72 (Meduza: 72 at the time of sentencing).
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On 19 October TASS reported that Trump announced Russia would release a detained American, without giving a name. [ 1 , 3 ]
- On 20 October RIA Novosti reported Trump's statement to reporters that he had asked Putin to release Hubbard. [ 6 , 8 ]
- On 21 October TASS reported that Witkoff thanked Putin for Hubbard's release. [ 11 , 14 , 17 ]
- TASS reported Peskov's statement that the decision was taken on humanitarian grounds. [ 21 , 22 ]
- TASS reported Trump's statement that the US handed no one to Russia in exchange for Hubbard. [ 26 , 33 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that Hubbard's son thanked Putin and Trump. [ 35 ]