Witnesses describe brutal treatment of freed American in Russian jails
Two former Ukrainian prisoners claim that Stephen Hubbard was physically abused and humiliated for over four years before his recent release.
By Alessia Romano ·
Two Ukrainians who shared a prison with Stephen Hubbard state that they observed Russian guards physically abusing and humiliating the American man during his four and a half year detention. Their testimony provides a detailed account of the harsh conditions Hubbard endured, corroborating earlier claims made by his family regarding the mistreatment he suffered behind bars.
Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, first encountered Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov facility in Bryansk, located near the border with Ukraine. Khyliuk noted that prison officials singled out the American from the moment he arrived. He recalled guards checking which cell contained Hubbard during inspections, often using insulting language and mocking him from the very beginning of his incarceration.
Ihor Shyshko, a captured Ukrainian soldier, also witnessed Hubbard's arrival and confirmed that his nationality attracted significant attention from the staff. Shyshko described how Hubbard was forced to learn the Russian language, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules that he could not read. Shyshko claimed to have seen and heard guards beating Hubbard, striking his legs, back, and arms, while also shocking him with a stun gun. He further alleged that Hubbard was denied proper food and medical care, left in the cold, and subjected to sexual humiliation for the amusement of the staff.
Hubbard was captured in April 2022 when Russian forces took control of Izyum, the eastern Ukrainian city where he resided with his partner. He was accused of serving in the Ukrainian armed forces, tried in Moscow, and sentenced to six years and ten months. The two Ukrainian men were held in the same facility while Hubbard awaited his trial. Khyliuk described a steady decline in Hubbard's health while they occupied neighboring cells. He heard Hubbard complain and noticed that guards called him to the prison doctor with increasing frequency. Khyliuk pointed out that the facility had broken windows and severe cold, forcing detainees to huddle in bathrooms for warmth during their time outside their cells.
The men later met Hubbard again at the Pakino facility, where Shyshko observed that his physical condition had deteriorated significantly. Shyshko noted that Hubbard’s knees and feet had no unblemished skin, suffering from rot. He recalled having to bandage Hubbard at the medical center after a doctor refused to do so, describing the American as weak and barely able to move. The detainees survived on a diet of porridge, bread, and potatoes, and endured a daily routine of beatings, forced running, and stress positions. Shyshko also mentioned an incident where a handler released a dog on prisoners to bite them.
Khyliuk claimed that shortly after the transfer to Pakino, Hubbard was hidden from view to conceal his poor condition from visiting International Red Cross staff. Khyliuk stated that the inspectors only saw what was presented to them and were satisfied with that display. The International Committee of the Red Cross responded by saying that whenever granted access, they request to see every individual and assess their conditions, noting that they continue discussions with the warring parties on this matter.
Khyliuk believed Hubbard had been released when he disappeared from the prison in 2024. Khyliuk himself returned to Ukraine in August 2025 as part of a prisoner exchange. He compared the overall treatment to the Stalin era, calling Russian captivity a torture machine. The Kremlin freed Hubbard, who is 74, on the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to discuss the war. Witkoff referred to the Russian president as a humanitarian, while US President Donald Trump stated he had asked Putin to free Hubbard during a phone call the previous week.
Khyliuk expressed happiness at seeing Hubbard freed, noting that it was not his war. However, he criticized the timing as shameful public relations for the US president, who is losing votes in congressional elections. Shyshko expressed hope that the perpetrators will eventually face justice, stating that evil must be punished and that it will be.
