US citizen Stephen Hubbard tortured in Russian jail, ex-Ukrainian prisoners say

Freed US citizen Stephen Hubbard was tortured in Russian prisons, according to former Ukrainian inmates who witnessed beatings and sexual humiliation by guards during his four-year detention. The 74-year-old retired English teacher was released in September 2026 after being convicted on mercenary charges. Dmytro Khyliuk and Ihor Shyshko said guards targeted Hubbard for his nationality, beating him with stun guns, denying food and medical care, and forcing him to sing the Russian anthem. They described rotting skin, scabies, and a diet of porridge and bread, with conditions worsening at Pakino prison. Hubbard was captured in Izyum in April 2022 and sentenced to six years and 10 months. His release coincided with US envoy Steve Witkoff's meeting with Vladimir Putin, who was praised as a "humanitarian" despite the ongoing invasion.