Detention of American Citizen Highlights Growing Tensions as Russia Cracks Down on Foreign Nationals
A Russian court has sentenced 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard, who has lived in Ukraine since 2014, was accused of joining a Ukrainian territorial defense unit and participating in the armed conflict. His trial was held largely behind closed doors, and he was convicted of mercenary activity.
The sentence, handed down by Moscow City Court Judge Alexandra Kovalevskaya, totals six years and ten months, with time already served since Hubbard’s detention in April 2022 being taken into account. Hubbard, in visibly poor health, reportedly pleaded guilty during his brief trial, though details surrounding his arrest remain unclear.
Russian prosecutors claim Hubbard was paid $1,000 a month for his involvement with Ukrainian forces, undergoing military training and receiving a combat uniform. Russian news agencies reported Hubbard had been living in the city of Izyum, which was under Russian control until Ukraine’s counter-offensive in September 2022.
String of Western Arrests in Russia
Hubbard’s case comes as part of a broader trend of detentions of Western citizens in Russia, many related to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. On the same day, another American, Robert Gilman, was sentenced to seven years for violence against prison staff. Gilman was already serving time for assaulting a police officer in 2022.
This sentencing follows a wave of high-profile arrests and prisoner swaps between Russia and Western nations, including the recent exchange involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. Russia continues to hold multiple foreign nationals on charges ranging from espionage to petty crimes, often linked to the Ukraine war.
As tensions remain high between Russia and the West, the detentions and legal actions against Westerners underscore the increasingly fraught relations between Moscow and Washington.
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