Former Cellmates Describe Abuse of Freed US Veteran in Russian Captivity

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher and US citizen, was handed back to American authorities this week after four and a half years of detention in Russia. His release came on the same day that US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the diplomatic timing has drawn attention, the human cost of his captivity is being detailed by two former Ukrainian prisoners who were held alongside him for significant periods of his sentence.

The first major account comes from Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist who first met Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov prison in Bryansk. Khyliuk states that Russian guards immediately singled out the American inmate. He recalls that during routine inspections, officers would search for his cell and use insulting language. Khyliuk noted that the threats and mockery began in Hubbard’s earliest days of detention, setting a tone of hostility that persisted throughout their time in the facility.

Ihor Shyshko, a Ukrainian soldier captured in the same period, provides a more graphic description of the physical abuse. Shyshko says that Hubbard’s nationality made him a target for the officers. The US citizen was forced to learn Russian, recite the national anthem, and memorize prison rules he could not read. Shyshko witnessed guards beating Hubbard on his legs, back, and arms. He also reported seeing Hubbard shocked with a stun gun. According to Shyshko, the abuse was compounded by a denial of basic necessities, including food and medical care, while Hubbard was kept in cold conditions.

Shyshko further alleges that Hubbard suffered sexual humiliation and abuse intended for the amusement of prison staff. Hubbard had been captured in April 2022 when Russian forces took control of Izyum, an eastern Ukrainian city where he lived with his partner. He was accused of serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, tried in Moscow, and sentenced to nearly seven years. The two Ukrainians were held with him during his pre-trial detention, and their testimonies align with previous statements from Hubbard’s family regarding his treatment.

Health issues for Hubbard worsened as time passed in Novozybkov. Khyliuk, who was held in an adjacent cell, heard complaints and noted that guards summoned the US citizen to the prison doctor with increasing frequency. Khyliuk described the facility as having broken windows and severe cold, forcing inmates to huddle in bathrooms during exercise time to find warmth. He claimed the conditions at Novozybkov were worse than at the next prison in the chain. The men later met Hubbard again at the Pakino facility, where his condition had deteriorated significantly.

At Pakino, Shyshko observed that Hubbard’s knees and feet were covered in sores. He recalled bandaging the American himself at the medical center because the doctor had refused to do so. Hubbard was described as weak and barely able to move. The daily routine at the facility included a diet of porridge, bread, and potatoes, alongside regular beatings, forced running, and stress positions. Shyshko also described an instance where a handler set a dog on prisoners to bite them.

Khyliuk claims that shortly after the transfer to Pakino, Hubbard was hidden from view to conceal his poor state from visiting International Red Cross staff. Khyliuk stated that the inspectors only saw what they were shown and seemed satisfied with the presentation. The International Committee of the Red Cross responded by saying that wherever it is granted access, it requests to see every individual and assess their conditions. The organization noted that it continues discussions with the parties to the conflict on this issue.

Hubbard disappeared from the prison records in 2024, leading Khyliuk to assume he had been released. Khyliuk himself returned to Ukraine in August 2025 through a prisoner exchange. He compared the overall experience of Russian captivity to the Stalin era, describing it as a torture machine. The Kremlin released Hubbard after the diplomatic meeting, a move that Witkoff praised by calling the Russian president a humanitarian. US President Donald Trump stated that he had asked Putin to free Hubbard during a phone call the previous week.

Khyliuk expressed relief at Hubbard’s release, noting that the war was not his. However, he criticized the timing, calling it shameful public relations for the US president who is facing upcoming congressional elections. Shyshko expressed hope that those responsible for the abuse will eventually face justice. He stated that evil must be punished and that it will be, offering a somber outlook on the future of accountability for the treatment of foreign detainees in Russia.

The release of Hubbard highlights the ongoing complexities of prisoner exchanges and diplomatic negotiations in the current conflict. While the immediate focus remains on the humanitarian aspects of the deal, the detailed accounts from former cellmates provide a stark look at the conditions faced by those held in Russian custody. As the US and Russia continue to engage, these testimonies add weight to the broader conversation about the treatment of prisoners and the role of international oversight in such cases.