Ukrainian Captives Detail Abuse of Freed American

Two Ukrainian men who shared a prison cell with Stephen Hubbard, the American recently released from Russian custody, have described a period of intense physical and psychological abuse. Their testimonies offer a detailed account of the conditions Hubbard faced during his more than four year captivity. They claim that Russian guards targeted the 74 year old specifically because of his nationality, subjecting him to beatings and humiliation that left him visibly weakened.

Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, first encountered Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov prison near the border. He stated that officers singled out the American immediately upon his arrival. Khyliuk recalled guards entering during inspections and shouting for the American while using obscene language. They threatened and mocked Hubbard from the very first days, setting a tone of hostility that persisted throughout his time in that facility.

Ihor Shyshko, a captured Ukrainian soldier, corroborated these accounts and added specific details about Hubbard's treatment. Shyshko said Hubbard was forced to learn the Russian language, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules he could not read. Shyshko witnessed guards striking Hubbard on his legs, back, and arms. He also reported that Hubbard was shocked with a stun gun, denied adequate food and medical care, and kept in freezing temperatures.

The physical deterioration of Hubbard was evident to his cellmates over the months they were held in adjacent cells. Khyliuk noted that Hubbard's health declined steadily, leading to more frequent visits to the prison doctor. The environment was harsh, with broken windows and bitter cold that forced detainees to huddle in bathrooms for warmth. Shyshko later observed that Hubbard had no healthy skin on his knees or feet, which were covered in rot.

Hubbard was transferred to the Pakino prison, where his condition reportedly worsened. Shyshko described a routine involving a diet of porridge, bread, and potatoes, alongside daily beatings and stress positions. He claimed that a handler even used a dog to bite prisoners. Khyliuk alleged that Hubbard was hidden from visiting International Red Cross staff to conceal his poor state, a claim the ICRC responded to by stating it always requests access to every individual when granted entry.

Hubbard was captured in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his partner. Russian authorities accused him of serving in the Ukrainian armed forces. He was convicted in a Moscow trial and sentenced to six years and ten months. His fellow inmates, Khyliuk and Shyshko, were held with him while he awaited trial. Their accounts align with statements previously made by Hubbard's family regarding his treatment in prison.

The Kremlin released Hubbard on the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Witkoff referred to the Russian leader as a humanitarian, while President Donald Trump said he had requested Hubbard's freedom in a recent phone call. Khyliuk, who returned to Ukraine in August 2025, welcomed Hubbard's release but criticized the timing as a public relations move by the US president. Shyshko expressed hope that those responsible for the abuse would eventually face justice, stating that evil must be punished.