Stephen James Hubbard, a 72-year-old American citizen, has become the latest U.S. national caught in the ongoing geopolitical tensions between the West and Russia. On Monday, Hubbard pleaded guilty in a Moscow court to charges of mercenary activity, admitting to fighting on behalf of Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
Russian authorities allege that Hubbard joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in the war-torn city of Izyum early in the conflict. This admission could lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years, making him the oldest American to face such accusations in Russia.
🇺🇸🇺🇦 “I’d Rather Be Santa Claus”: US Retiree Admits Being a Mercenary for Money
A 72-year-old American retiree, Stefan Hubbard, is on trial in Moscow, accused of being a mercenary for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Hubbard admitted to joining the conflict for financial gain,… pic.twitter.com/UfDeXaclRv
— Uncensored News (@uncensorednews9) October 1, 2024
The charges against Hubbard have sparked controversy and raised questions about the veracity of his confession. His family vehemently denies the allegations, suggesting that the confession may have been coerced. According to his sister, Hubbard is a pacifist and had never shown any interest in military activities.
She further noted that Ukraine does not accept volunteers over the age of 60, casting doubt on Russia's claims that he was a combatant.
An American musician, also a former paratrooper, was arrested in Moscow for drug trafficking. His trial was shown on Russian state television with images of him locked in a metal cage. pic.twitter.com/zBG9p2u3vU
— Phuoc FnB (@fnb_phuoc) June 13, 2023
Hubbard, originally from Big Rapids, Michigan, had lived abroad for many years, working as an English teacher in countries like Japan and Cyprus. According to reports, he had been living in Izyum before the war began and was supporting himself with a small pension. Russian prosecutors claim that he signed a contract to fight for Ukraine and was promised a monthly payment of $1,000, though these details have not been corroborated by independent sources.
The circumstances surrounding Hubbard’s capture are murky. Some reports indicate that he may have been "kidnapped" by Chechen soldiers in the early days of the war, with a video allegedly showing him being beaten.
This raises further suspicions about the legitimacy of the charges and whether Hubbard was an active combatant or a victim of circumstance.
The trial is just the latest in a series of high-profile cases involving Americans in Russian custody since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began. Tensions between Moscow and Washington remain high, and while there have been several prisoner swaps, it is unclear whether Hubbard could be part of any future exchanges.
