A 72-year-old American man, identified as Stefan or Stephen Hubbard, appeared in a Moscow court on Friday to face charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. According to Russian news agencies, Hubbard is accused of participating in the armed conflict on Ukraine’s side.
Hubbard, a pensioner from Michigan, reportedly moved to Ukraine in 2014. The circumstances of his arrival in Moscow remain unclear. During the hearing, the judge granted the prosecutor’s request to detain Hubbard for six months, citing flight risk concerns.
If convicted, Hubbard could face up to 15 years in prison under Russian law. A 2022 YouTube video appears to show Hubbard discussing his involvement in the conflict in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. Russia has occupied parts of the region since spring 2022.
The US Embassy in Moscow acknowledged Hubbard’s arrest but declined further comment due to privacy restrictions. The next hearing is scheduled for next Thursday. This development adds to the growing list of US citizens detained in Russia in recent years on various charges.
