American, 72, Pleads Guilty in Russia for Fighting on Behalf of Ukraine, According to RIA Report By Reuters

By Lucy Papachristou

LONDON (Reuters) – Stephen James Hubbard, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty in a Moscow court on Monday to charges of serving as a mercenary against Russia during the Ukraine conflict, according to reports from Russian news agency RIA.

Hubbard’s sister and another family member quickly expressed skepticism about his reported confession, stating that he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to have taken up arms at his age.

During a hearing at the Moscow City Court, Hubbard admitted receiving payments to fight for Ukraine against Russia, saying, "Yes, I agree with the indictment," as quoted by RIA.

Last week, Hubbard was placed in pre-trial detention for six months, facing potential sentencing of seven to 15 years if convicted.

According to a prosecutor in court as reported by RIA, Hubbard signed a contract with a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in Izyum at the onset of the war in February 2022. The charges indicate he was promised a monthly salary of $1,000 along with training, weapons, and ammunition. The prosecutor noted that Hubbard was detained by Russian soldiers on April 2 of that year, just weeks after hostilities began.

Attempts to confirm the circumstances of Hubbard’s detention were unsuccessful, and his lawyer could not be reached for immediate comment. The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry also did not respond promptly to inquiries.

Hubbard’s sister, Patricia Fox, last communicated with him via Skype in September 2021 and questioned the validity of his reported confession. She described him as "non-military," stating, "He never had a gun, owned a gun, or done any of that… He’s more of a pacifist."

Hubbard is among at least 10 Americans currently imprisoned in Russia, following a prisoner swap that occurred on August 1, which included the release of three Americans along with numerous others.

A spokesperson for the U.S. embassy in Moscow acknowledged awareness of the detention of an American citizen but refrained from providing further comments.

Originally from Big Rapids, Michigan, Hubbard worked for many years as an English teacher abroad, including stints in Japan and Cyprus. Fox mentioned that Hubbard relocated to Ukraine in 2014 and had lived with a Ukrainian woman, sustaining himself on a modest pension. When they last spoke, he had separated from his girlfriend and was residing alone in Izyum.

Fox reported having received minimal updates about her brother’s situation until a video emerged online. This video, uploaded to a platform in May 2022 by an account with only about 100 followers, features a bearded man in a brown sweater who responds to questions from an off-camera interviewer speaking with an accented English.

The specific time and place of the video’s filming remain unclear, but Fox identified the individual as her brother. In the video, he expressed an understanding of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine and conveyed hope for an early resolution to the conflict.