Stephen Hubbard endured four years of physical abuse in Russian prisons, former cellmates report
Two Ukrainian detainees describe beatings, stun gun use, and medical neglect that left the 74-year-old American with severe wounds before his recent release.
By Marco Graham ·
Stephen Hubbard spent more than four years in Russian custody, a period his former cellmates say was defined by consistent physical punishment and institutional neglect. The 74-year-old retired English teacher was freed on October 23, 2026, following diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia. His release coincided with a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.
Two Ukrainians who shared a prison block with Hubbard provided specific accounts of the conditions he faced. Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, and Ihor Shyshko, a captured soldier, were held with Hubbard at the Novozybkov prison in Bryansk starting in September 2022. Both men stated that prison guards targeted Hubbard specifically because of his nationality. Khyliuk noted that officers would search for his cell during inspections, using insults and threats from the moment he arrived.
Shyshko described the daily routine as a cycle of forced labor and physical correction. Hubbard was required to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules he could not read. Shyshko said he witnessed guards beating Hubbard on the legs, back, and arms. He also reported that Hubbard was shocked with a stun gun and subjected to sexual humiliation for the amusement of staff. The prisoner was denied adequate food and medical care while kept in cold cells with broken windows.
The physical toll on Hubbard was visible to other detainees. Shyshko observed that by the time the group was transferred to the Pakino prison, Hubbard had no intact skin on his knees or feet due to rotting wounds. Shyshko bandaged the American at the medical center because the prison doctor refused to do so. The diet consisted primarily of porridge, bread, and potatoes, while daily exercises included forced running and stress positions. Shyshko also recalled a handler setting a dog on prisoners to bite them.
Khyliuk stated that Hubbard was hidden from visiting International Red Cross staff shortly after the transfer to Pakino to conceal his deteriorating health. The Red Cross said it asks to see every individual when granted access and continues talks with conflict parties on the issue. Hubbard was captured in April 2022 when Russian soldiers occupied Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his partner. He was convicted in Moscow of serving in Ukraine's armed forces and sentenced to six years and 10 months.
Khyliuk, who was released in August 2025, said Hubbard vanished from the prison in 2024, leading Khyliuk to believe he had already been freed. Khyliuk compared the prison system to the Stalin era, calling Russian captivity a torture machine. He described the timing of Hubbard's release as shameful PR for President Donald Trump, who is facing congressional elections. Trump said he asked Putin to free Hubbard during a phone call the previous week.
Shyshko expressed hope that the officers responsible for the abuse will eventually face justice. He stated that evil must be punished and that it will be. Hubbard's family had previously claimed he was tortured, a position supported by the testimonies of the two Ukrainian men. The Kremlin confirmed the release on the same day Witkoff met Putin, marking the end of Hubbard's 54-month detention.
