Tucson, AZ, October 21, 2026 —

Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, according to an announcement by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff announced the release after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

The available information identifies Hubbard as a retired American teacher and describes the charges against him as involving fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. It does not provide further details about the allegations, the case against him or the circumstances of his imprisonment. The release announcement establishes that he was freed, but does not say when the release took place.

Witkoff’s announcement followed his meeting with Putin. No additional information was provided about what was discussed at the meeting, whether the release was part of an agreement or arrangement, or what role, if any, the meeting played in Hubbard’s release. The announcement also does not specify where Hubbard was released or whether he had left Russia.

Details about Hubbard’s current location and plans were not provided. The information available does not include a statement from Hubbard, his family, a lawyer or Russian officials. It also does not provide the length of his imprisonment, the date of his arrest, or the outcome of any court proceedings related to the charges.

For now, the reported development is limited to the release announcement and the circumstances given alongside it: Hubbard had been imprisoned on the mercenary-related charges, and Witkoff announced his release after meeting Putin in St. Petersburg. Further details about the case and what happens next were not included in the announcement as described.


Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.kgun9.com, see more information here.

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