Prison Conditions: Former Ukrainian Inmates Detail Torture of Freed US Citizen

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American retired teacher, was released from Russian custody on Thursday after four and a half years of detention. Two former Ukrainian prisoners who shared cells and corridors with him allege that Russian guards subjected him to physical and sexual abuse, medical neglect, and harsh environmental conditions throughout his sentence.

Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, first met Hubbard in September 2022 at Novozybkov prison in Bryansk, near the Ukrainian border. Khyliuk stated that guards identified Hubbard immediately, using obscene language and threats during inspections. Ihor Shyshko, a captured Ukrainian soldier, confirmed that Hubbard's nationality drew intense scrutiny. Shyshko said Hubbard was forced to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules he could not read. Shyshko witnessed guards beating Hubbard on the legs, back, and arms, and stated that they also used a stun gun on him.

The two men described a regimen of physical punishment and deprivation. Shyshko reported that Hubbard was denied food and medical care while kept in cold cells. He further alleged that prison staff subjected Hubbard to sexual humiliation and abuse for their amusement. Khyliuk observed Hubbard's health deteriorate over months, noting frequent summons to the prison doctor. The conditions at Novozybkov included broken windows and bitter cold, forcing detainees to huddle in bathrooms for warmth. The men described a daily diet of porridge, bread, and potatoes, alongside forced running and stress positions.

Hubbard was captured in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his Ukrainian partner. Russian authorities accused him of serving in Ukraine's armed forces. He was convicted in Moscow and sentenced to six years and ten months. The accounts of Khyliuk and Shyshko corroborate statements made by Hubbard's family regarding his treatment in custody. Khyliuk noted that soon after Hubbard was transferred to Pakino prison, guards hid him from visiting International Red Cross staff to conceal his physical state. Shyshko said Hubbard's condition worsened at Pakino, describing rotting skin on his knees and feet that required bandaging when the prison doctor refused to treat him.

The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that it requests access to every individual when granted entry and continues discussions with conflict parties on the issue. Khyliuk claimed Hubbard disappeared from the prison in 2024, leading him to assume an early release. Khyliuk himself returned to Ukraine in August 2025 via a prisoner exchange. He compared the treatment to the Stalin era, calling Russian captivity a torture machine.

The Kremlin released Hubbard on the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to discuss the war. Witkoff referred to Putin as a humanitarian following the meeting. President Donald Trump said he had requested Hubbard's freedom during a phone call with Putin the previous week. Khyliuk welcomed Hubbard's release, noting it was not his war, but criticized the timing as shameful public relations for the US president. Shyshko expressed hope that those responsible for the abuse will face justice.