An American’s final message after Russian troops seized his town was ‘I am well, waiting for the war to end,’ and four years later he’s going home

Stephen Hubbard, an American jailed in Russia for over four years on mercenary charges, is free and heading home to the United States. As reported by The Associated Press, the release happened during a visit by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to St. Petersburg.

President Donald Trump confirmed the release, telling reporters at the White House that he had personally asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to free Hubbard during a recent call. Trump described the 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan as a “very high-quality, innocent man.” Unlike previous prisoner exchanges, the U.S. did not have to give up anyone in return.

Hubbard’s legal team has consistently denied the Russian accusations, stating he was not involved in any military activity. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, said her brother was “just for bait” and that “they could do that to anybody.” She expects him to stay with her in Colorado.

Hubbard had built a quiet life in Ukraine long before his arrest

Hubbard, a U.S. Air Force veteran, taught English overseas and retired to Cyprus in 2012, where one of his sons is a priest. He later moved to Ukraine to be with a woman he had met, staying there even after the relationship ended.

He was living in Ukraine when Russia’s invasion began in 2022. Hubbard was detained in April of that year after Russian forces took control of his area.

Russian prosecutors claimed Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after the 2022 invasion and fought alongside Kyiv’s forces until his capture two months later. He was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison during closed court proceedings. However, the U.S. government under President Joe Biden’s administration designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, and his family also disputed the Russian allegations.

Witkoff met with Putin during the visit and praised the Russian leader as a “humanitarian.” He thanked Putin for releasing Hubbard, telling him, “Because of you, he’s going home to his family.” Witkoff added, “You talk so much about my president, President Trump, being a humanitarian. You are a humanitarian also, sir.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Hubbard’s release was “raised by the American side for a certain time,” and that Putin decided to free him out of “humanitarian considerations.” Putin aide Yuri Ushakov later said the Kremlin leader had pardoned Hubbard.

After his release, Hubbard was taken to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport, where Witkoff brought him home. Video showed Witkoff and Hubbard shaking hands, with Hubbard thanking the envoy. Witkoff also introduced Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Hubbard, describing him as someone “who had a lot to do with this happening.”

Martin De Luca, one of Hubbard’s lawyers at Boies Schiller Flexner, said the family thought they would not see him alive again. “Obviously, they’re overjoyed, but they feel very much like it’s a miracle,” De Luca said.

Hubbard Fox spoke with her brother soon after his release. “That was awesome. He was just laughing. He said, ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’” she said. Trump expects Hubbard to visit the White House in the coming days.

The release comes as the Trump administration has waived sanctions on Russia imposed by a bill meant to support Ukraine. The administration’s Ukraine talks with Moscow have also reportedly expanded to include a multibillion-dollar Lukoil oil deal.

Hubbard is the second American freed by Russia in about two months, following the release of Marine veteran Robert Gilman in August. While Hubbard was the last remaining American officially designated as “wrongfully detained,” other Americans, including some with serious illnesses, remain jailed in Russia. When asked if more Americans would be released, Trump told reporters, “Yeah, I think so. That’ll come.”

Russia has also reported more arrests of foreigners recently. The FSB security service said it detained a German national suspected of mercenary activities, and last week announced the arrests of a Swedish national suspected of sabotage and a Japanese journalist accused of espionage.