Freed American Tortured in Russian Jail, Former Prisoners Allege

Freed American citizen Stephen Hubbard endured torture, including beatings and sexual humiliation, during his four-year detention in Russian prisons, according to former Ukrainian prisoners who were held alongside him. The men allege that guards singled out Hubbard, an English teacher from California, because he was American.

Dmytro Khyliuk and Ihor Shyshko, who were released in prisoner exchanges, first encountered Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov prison in Russia's Bryansk region. They reported that guards frequently mocked Hubbard, threatening him and forcing him to learn Russian and recite prison rules he could not read.

"We heard it from the guards. They came during inspections and were asking: in which cell is the American? And then they used obscene words. They threatened him, they mocked him from the first days," Khyliuk said.

Shyshko stated that Hubbard was subjected to physical abuse, including beatings on his legs, back, and arms, as well as electrocution with a stun gun. He also alleged that Hubbard was denied adequate food and medical care, and was kept in cold conditions. "He was always treated more harshly, because he was an American. They claimed he was a mercenary, and said 'let's beat him'," Shyshko recounted.

Hubbard was captured in April 2022 when Russian forces occupied the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum, where he resided with his Ukrainian partner. He was accused of serving in Ukraine's armed forces and subsequently convicted in a Moscow trial, receiving a sentence of six years and 10 months.

The two former prisoners encountered Hubbard again at a subsequent prison, Pakino, where his condition reportedly deteriorated. Shyshko described Hubbard's wounds as becoming severely infected. "There was not a single spot on his knees or on his feet without rot," he said. "Everything was rotten. We all had scabies. It was very, very difficult for him. I even bandaged him once at the medical centre, because the doctor didn't want to do it. He just couldn't do it himself, and I had to help. He was quite weak then and he almost couldn't move."

Both men detailed a harsh prison regime that included meager rations of porridge, bread, and potatoes, daily beatings, and forced stress positions. Shyshko also described incidents where guards allowed a dog to bite detainees. "There's a handler with a dog, who lets go so it can bite you on the buttocks, on the elbow, or bite your leg. Then these wounds fester very badly," he said.

Khyliuk claimed that Hubbard was hidden from International Red Cross visitors while at Pakino prison to conceal his condition. The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that when granted access, they request to see every individual and assess their conditions.

Hubbard disappeared from the prison in 2024, and Khyliuk was repatriated to Ukraine in August 2025. Khyliuk expressed satisfaction at Hubbard's release but characterized the timing as "shameful PR of the US president, who is losing votes in elections to Congress."

Hubbard's family had previously stated that he was tortured. He was released by Russian authorities shortly after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously stated he had requested Hubbard's release from Putin.