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Newly Freed American Describes His Years in Russian Prison
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Russia freed retired American teacher Stephen James Hubbard last week after President Trump's intervention, ending more than four years in prison on fabricated charges of mercenary activity. In his first interview since his release, Hubbard described moments of despair and declined to weigh in on politics, saying he did not want to jeopardize the release of other Americans still held in Russia.
Newly Freed American Describes His Years in Russian Prison - The New York Times
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Newly Freed American Describes His Years in Russian Prison
Stephen James Hubbard, the retired teacher arrested soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said he sometimes lost hope.
Listen · 8:39 min
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*
!A group of eight people smile while gathered inside an airplane cabin. Three of them hold an American flag across the foreground, with one person pointing at it.
*Stephen James Hubbard with relatives and U.S. officials aboard a flight to the United States after his release from Russian prison, in a photo released by the U.S. government.Credit...U.S. Government, via Reuters*
By Kim Barker
Oct. 29, 2026, 7:32 p.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results.Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times as a preferred source on GoogleAgrega The New York Times como fuente preferida en Google›
Stephen James Hubbard, the 74-year-old retired American teacher freed last week by Russia after the intervention of President Trump, said he sometimes lost hope over the more than four years he was imprisoned on fabricated charges of being a Ukrainian mercenary. He read his mother’s Bible, which his captors let him keep. He spoke no Russian and barely communicated with anyone. Once, he was allowed to call one of his sons for about a minute.
But in mid-October, his Russian guard came and fitted him for a new coat. The guard leaned forward and whispered one English word into Mr. Hubbard’s ear: “Home.”
“I’ve been told many times I was going to be set free,” Mr. Hubbard said, describing his reaction to the news from the guard. “So I’m just waiting to see if it happens, and I can believe it if it happens. If it doesn’t, it’s OK.”
In his first interview since being freed on Oct. 21, Mr. Hubbard declined to make any political statements about Russia, Ukraine or the war. He did not want to talk about how he felt when Russian soldiers essentially abducted him from his home in Ukraine. Nor did he want to talk much about his treatment in Russia, adding that he did not want to jeopardize the release of any of the other Americans being held there.
“I have sympathy for Russian prisoners in Ukraine and Ukrainian prisoners in Russia,” Mr. Hubbard said. “Prison life for anybody is terrible, and I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy.”
Mr. Hubbard, who spoke from Washington, D.C., on a video call, wore a brown plaid shirt bought for him by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and his old gray Irish cap, which his son in Japan had passed to him through the State Department. He said he looked forward to meeting President Trump at the White House, likely on Friday, and credited the U.S. president with his freedom. He also said he hoped his release would improve the relationship between Russia and America and help get more Americans back home. At least seven other U.S. citizens are still being held in Russia.
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Skip to contentSkip to site index
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Thursday, October 29, 2026
Today’s Paper
* Home
* + U.S.
+ International
+ Canada
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+ 中文
Russia-Ukraine War
* Call to Putin
* Starshield
* Trump-Zelensky Relationship
* Respite for Kherson
Advertisement
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You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Supported by
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Newly Freed American Describes His Years in Russian Prison
Stephen James Hubbard, the retired teacher arrested soon after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said he sometimes lost hope.
Listen · 8:39 min
*
*
*
!A group of eight people smile while gathered inside an airplane cabin. Three of them hold an American flag across the foreground, with one person pointing at it.
*Stephen James Hubbard with relatives and U.S. officials aboard a flight to the United States after his release from Russian prison, in a photo released by the U.S. government.Credit...U.S. Government, via Reuters*
By Kim Barker
Oct. 29, 2026, 7:32 p.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results.Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times as a preferred source on GoogleAgrega The New York Times como fuente preferida en Google›
Stephen James Hubbard, the 74-year-old retired American teacher freed last week by Russia after the intervention of President Trump, said he sometimes lost hope over the more than four years he was imprisoned on fabricated charges of being a Ukrainian mercenary. He read his mother’s Bible, which his captors let him keep. He spoke no Russian and barely communicated with anyone. Once, he was allowed to call one of his sons for about a minute.
But in mid-October, his Russian guard came and fitted him for a new coat. The guard leaned forward and whispered one English word into Mr. Hubbard’s ear: “Home.”
“I’ve been told many times I was going to be set free,” Mr. Hubbard said, describing his reaction to the news from the guard. “So I’m just waiting to see if it happens, and I can believe it if it happens. If it doesn’t, it’s OK.”
In his first interview since being freed on Oct. 21, Mr. Hubbard declined to make any political statements about Russia, Ukraine or the war. He did not want to talk about how he felt when Russian soldiers essentially abducted him from his home in Ukraine. Nor did he want to talk much about his treatment in Russia, adding that he did not want to jeopardize the release of any of the other Americans being held there.
“I have sympathy for Russian prisoners in Ukraine and Ukrainian prisoners in Russia,” Mr. Hubbard said. “Prison life for anybody is terrible, and I wouldn’t wish it on my enemy.”
Mr. Hubbard, who spoke from Washington, D.C., on a video call, wore a brown plaid shirt bought for him by the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and his old gray Irish cap, which his son in Japan had passed to him through the State Department. He said he looked forward to meeting President Trump at the White House, likely on Friday, and credited the U.S. president with his freedom. He also said he hoped his release would improve the relationship between Russia and America and help get more Americans back home. At least seven other U.S. citizens are still being held in Russia.
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Tags:#ستيفن هابارد#روسيا#أوكرانيا#دونالد ترامب#الأسرى الأمريكيون#السجون الروسية
Source: New York Times
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