Stephen Hubbard's son: 'It’s tragic when family members are torn apart' by Russian captivity
For years, Father Joseph Coleman had little ability to influence what happened to his father, Stephen Hubbard, an American retiree imprisoned in Russia after being captured in Izium, a city in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast occupied by Russian forces in 2022. Hubbard, 74, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison after a closed trial in Russia. Russian prosecutors accused him of fighting for…
Father Joseph Coleman expressed his relief and joy upon learning that his 74-year-old father, Stephen Hubbard, had been released from Russian captivity. Hubbard was imprisoned after being captured in Izium, Ukraine, in 2022, where he was accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, a claim his family disputes. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was present at the occasion, alongside Hubbard, who appeared healthier and in high spirits compared to what Coleman had anticipated.
The retired schoolteacher from Michigan had stayed in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, and his family believed his presence made him a target. Despite acknowledging potential mistreatment, Coleman refrained from asking his father about his experiences and left it to him when and if he wanted to disclose them. While Hubbard has no plans to return to Ukraine, Coleman hopes to visit Russia and Kyiv for a religious pilgrimage, driven by faith rather than political motives.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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