--- title: "Russia releases US teacher Stephen Hubbard after four years" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/russia-releases-us-teacher-stephen-hubbard-after-four-years" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/russia-releases-us-teacher-stephen-hubbard-after-four-years" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/russia-releases-us-teacher-stephen-hubbard-after-four-years.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/russia-releases-us-teacher-stephen-hubbard-after-four-years" category: "Politics" area: "Ukraine" published: "2026-10-21T13:45:58.842Z" source_reported: "2026-10-21T13:05:37.046Z" updated: "2026-10-21T13:45:58.842Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-21T13:30:23.921367+00:00" --- # Russia releases US teacher Stephen Hubbard after four years *Retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard, detained in 2022, has been released by Russia.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 14 digests corroborate the release; claims about exchange are attributed to Trump. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Full reports provide detail; digests offer a broad overview of reporting. Claims are attributed. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use neutral language, but some imply a significant diplomatic win for Trump. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher, has been released by Russia. - Hubbard was detained in 2022 and later convicted of serving as a mercenary. - Former President Donald Trump announced the release, stating Russia demanded no concessions. - Hubbard's family expressed gratitude and acknowledged President Putin's role in his release. Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired American teacher, has been released by Russia after nearly five years of detention. He was detained in 2022 and subsequently convicted by a Russian court of serving as a mercenary. The announcement of his release came from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that Russia demanded nothing in return for Hubbard's freedom. Hubbard's family has expressed gratitude for his release and acknowledged the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin. ## Disagreement on Hubbard's conviction While Russian state media reported that Stephen Hubbard pleaded guilty to charges of participating in combat operations against Russian forces, his lawyer, Martin De Luca, stated that Hubbard maintained the charges were false and that he was not involved in combat or any military unit. The New York Times also reported that Hubbard's sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, disputes that he fought for Ukraine, as do three former Ukrainian prisoners of war who were held with Hubbard. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated digests mention the specific date in 2024 when Stephen Hubbard was sentenced in a closed-door trial, as reported by NBC News. The digests also do not include the detail that Hubbard's lawyer stated he was the only American in Russia designated as wrongfully detained. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 10% (1) - Centre: 40% (4) - Right: 50% (5) 6 of 16 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-21T13:30:23.921367+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-21T14:00:30.226Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from NBC News provided a detailed account of Stephen Hubbard's release, noting his conviction for serving as a mercenary and his status as the only American in Russia designated as wrongfully detained. It highlighted that the release occurred during a meeting between U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The report also detailed the Russian prosecutors' allegations against Hubbard, including his alleged voluntary joining of a territorial defense battalion and participation in combat, while also noting his lawyer's assertion that Hubbard denied these claims. NBC News also contextualised Hubbard's release within a history of high-profile cases involving detained Americans in Russia, such as Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Brittney Griner. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports from KRDO, La Libre, WAGA, and Fox 10 Phoenix focused on the announcement of Stephen Hubbard's release and the involvement of former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. KRDO noted Hubbard's ties to Colorado, where his sister resides, and quoted his sister's past pleas for his release. La Libre reported that Hubbard was officially released "without compensation" according to Trump, and that he had been detained for four years. WAGA and Fox 10 Phoenix highlighted that the release followed negotiations between U.S. officials and the Russian government. ### Right - Right-rated reports from news-pravda.com, dailymail.com, Clarin, aletihad.ae, and Breitbart highlighted that Stephen Hubbard was freed by Russia, with several emphasizing that the release was "out of respect" for former President Donald Trump. Dailymail.com quoted Trump bragging that Vladimir Putin asked for nothing in return. Clarin stated the return happened without any exchange, noting an "unpublished decision" by Russia after the suspension of sanctions. Breitbart reported that Russia "relented" and freed Hubbard after "Trump pressure." Aletihad.ae noted Putin's announcement of the release and Trump's comments. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 4 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [NBC News](https://nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/stephen-hubbard-retired-american-teacher-freed-russia-rcna604735) — Who is Stephen Hubbard, the retired American teacher freed by Russia? - [KRDO](https://krdo.com/news/2026/10/21/russia-frees-u-s-prisoner-with-colorado-ties) — Russia frees U.S. prisoner with Colorado ties - [alfavita.gr](https://alfavita.gr/kosmos/565247_stiben-hamparnt-poios-einai-o-proin-kratoymenos-poy-apeleytherose-o-poytin) — Stephen Hubbard: Who Is the Former Prisoner that Putin Released? - [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/10/21/2683782.html) — Yuri Baranchik: It started running through many of our channels today, for example, here - they say, these are the Americans, they didn't give us anyone in exchange for Hubbard, they say, we are one person again - [Lapresse](https://lapresse.it/esteri/2026/10/21/russia-usa-putin-libera-detenuto-americano-stephen-hubbard-era-accusato-di-aver-combattuto-in-ucraina) — Russia-USA, Putin Free American Prisoner: Stephen Hubbard Was Accused of Fighting in Ukraine - [Zoom News](https://zoomnews.in/en/news-detail/us-citizen-stephen-hubbard-released-from-russian-captivity-after-4-years-following-trump-putin-talks.html) — US Citizen Stephen Hubbard Released From Russian Captivity After 4 Years Following Trump Putin Talks - [Unknown](https://eurointegration.com.ua/news/2026/10/21/7248248) — Trump Says He Asked Putin to Release the American — and Russia Demanded Nothing in Return - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/vertical-galleries/article-16226709/Russia-frees-US-prisoner-Stephen-Hubbard-respect-Trump-says.html) — Russia frees US prisoner Stephen Hubbard 'out of respect', Trump says - [La Libre](https://lalibre.be/international/europe/guerre-ukraine-russie/2026/10/21/vladimir-poutine-annonce-la-liberation-dun-prisonnier-americain-detenu-en-russie-NZBW2UUSXVHONO4DCNFC5VLJ2I) — Vladimir Putin Announces the Release of an American Prisoner Detained in Russia, Donald Trump Denies Any "Counterparty" - [Clarin](https://clarin.com/estados-unidos/estadounidense-liberado-en-rusia-va-en-camino-a-casa-dice-trump_0_XCgPhD3cm2.html) — U.S. Liberated in Russia Goes "On the Road Home," Trump Says - [flash.gr](https://flash.gr/epistrefei-stis-ipa-amerikanos-ekpaideytikos-meta-apo-polyeti-kratisi-sti-rosia-1087304) — American Teacher Returns to the US After Years of Detention in Russia - [aletihad.ae](https://aletihad.ae/news/%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A/4700332/%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AC-%D8%B9%D9%86--%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A--%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A8-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%82) — Putin Releases "American Prisoner," Trump Comments - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/10/21/russia-frees-american-stephen-hubbard-video) — Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/europe/2026/10/21/russia-relents-frees-american-citizen-stephen-hubbard-after-trump-pressure) — Russia Relents: Frees American Citizen Stephen Hubbard After Trump Pressure - [WAGA](https://fox5atlanta.com/news/american-prisoner-released-from-russia-after-trump-putin-negotiation) — American prisoner released from Russia after Trump-Putin negotiation - [Fox 10 Phoenix](https://fox10phoenix.com/news/american-prisoner-released-from-russia-after-trump-putin-negotiation) — American prisoner released from Russia after Trump-Putin negotiation ## Questions **Who is Stephen Hubbard?** Stephen Hubbard is a 74-year-old retired American teacher who had been detained in Russia since 2022. He was convicted of serving as a mercenary. He has now been released by Russia. **Why was Stephen Hubbard detained?** Stephen Hubbard was detained in 2022 after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He was later convicted by a Russian court of serving as a mercenary, though his lawyer and family dispute these charges. **Was there an exchange for Stephen Hubbard's release?** According to former President Donald Trump, Russia demanded nothing in return for Stephen Hubbard's release, stating it was done out of respect for him. Trump also indicated that negotiations might have halted if the U.S. had proceeded with certain sanctions. **What did Hubbard's family say about his release?** Hubbard's family expressed deep gratitude for his release and acknowledged the humanitarian move by President Putin. They had been gravely concerned for his safety and health since his detention in 2022 and had prayed for success in negotiations. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. 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