In a recent closed trial, a Russian court has sentenced 72-year-old American citizen Stephen James Hubbard to six years and ten months in prison, allegedly for his involvement as a mercenary fighting for Ukraine. Investigators revealed that Hubbard, originally from Michigan, was reportedly paid $1,000 a month while serving in a territorial defense unit in Izyum, where he had lived since 2014.
According to court documents, Hubbard began his service in February 2022, aligning with an increased Russian military presence in Ukraine. He allegedly received training, weapons, and ammunition before being captured by Russian soldiers on April 2 of that year. Notably, Russian state media reported that Hubbard confessed to the charges against him.
However, in interviews with Reuters, Hubbard’s sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, and other family members questioned the legitimacy of his confession. They emphasized that Hubbard held pro-Russian beliefs and raised doubts about his capacity to engage actively in combat at his age.
During the sentencing, Hubbard was seen in a glass enclosure, handcuffed and wearing a beige sweater. He struggled to stand as the judge pronounced his guilt, removing his hat to reveal a shaved head. While he showed no overt emotion, he had a brief conversation with his lawyer, who later opted not to comment further on the case. It is expected that an appeal will be filed against the verdict.
Despite the challenges in verifying the details of his detention, the Ukrainian foreign affairs ministry has not responded to multiple requests for comments. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow confirmed the detention of an American citizen but did not offer additional insights.
Family members portray Hubbard as somewhat of a recluse, having become estranged from parts of his family during his years abroad as an English teacher in countries like Japan and Cyprus. Fox mentioned that Hubbard moved to Ukraine in 2014, where at one point he lived with a Ukrainian woman and managed on a modest pension of around $300 a month. Notably, he never learned to speak Russian or Ukrainian, maintaining minimal connections to the local community.
Hubbard’s case is part of a broader situation, as he is one of at least ten Americans currently imprisoned in Russia. This follows a prisoner exchange on August 1 that released three Americans along with several others. Additionally, a separate ruling in Voronezh, south of Moscow, saw ex-Marine Robert Gilman sentenced to seven years and one month for assaulting a prison official and a state investigator while serving time for a prior offense.
