# Who is Stephen Hubbard, the American Putin just freed?

https://mins.news/en/item/109687

- Meduza, 2026-10-21 15:12 UTC
- World
- Original: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/21/who-is-stephen-hubbard-the-american-putin-just-freed

> Russia released U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, who had been convicted of mercenary activity. Vladimir Putin announced the move while meeting U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The Kremlin called it a goodwill gesture, while Donald Trump said the release was unilateral. Hubbard had joined territorial defense forces in Ukraine before Russian forces captured him. A former cellmate said Hubbard was beaten, starved, humiliated, and tortured in detention.

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- [Russia frees American prisoner after more than four years during US envoy’s visit](https://mins.news/en/video/109640) — Global News, 2026-10-21
- [Russia releases US prisoner Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff visit](https://mins.news/en/item/109239) — The Kyiv Independent, 2026-10-21
- [Russia frees US citizen Stephen Hubbard, state media reports](https://mins.news/en/item/109195) — BBC News, 2026-10-21