Marine veteran Robert Gilman has returned to U.S. soil following his release from Russian custody, the Trump administration announced. U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Deputy Assistant to the President Sebastian Gorka greeted Gilman upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base.
Gilman, a U.S. citizen who was arrested in Voronezh, Russia, on Jan. 17, 2022, was freed Tuesday after 1,666 days in prison. President Donald Trump stated that Gilman's release was granted on humanitarian grounds and that Russia requested no prisoner in return. Witkoff shared images of the reunion on social media, noting Gilman's return to his family and country. Gorka also shared video and photos, including images of Gilman receiving cheeseburgers and milkshakes, fulfilling a request made by the veteran.
Gilman was initially sentenced to three and a half years in 2022 for assaulting a police officer. His sentence increased in 2024 after he was found guilty of attacking a prison inspector, assaulting an investigator, and beating another guard. In December 2025, a regional court found him guilty of a new assault on prison staff, leading to another extension of his sentence.
The U.S. State Department had designated Gilman as a wrongful detainee. He is the third U.S. Marine to be taken prisoner in Russia in recent years, following the detentions and subsequent releases of Trevor Reed in 2019 and Paul Whelan in 2018, both of whom were released in prisoner swaps.
Trump emphasized on social media that the release was a testament to his administration's commitment to bringing Americans home, stating, "No American left behind."