Freed US citizen was tortured in Russian jail, former Ukrainian prisoners say
Ukrainians held alongside the American say they witnessed beatings and sexual humiliation by Russian guards during his detention.
Ukrainian prisoners Stephen Hubbard, Dmytro Khyliuk, and Ihor Shyshko have accused Russian guards of torturing Hubbard during his four-year imprisonment in Novozybkov prison. Hubbard, who was captured in April 2022, was accused of serving in Ukraine's armed forces and sentenced to six years and 10 months. He recounted being beaten, electrocuted, and subjected to sexual humiliation, all while being denied food, medical care, and basic necessities.
Khyliuk and Shyshko, fellow Ukrainian prisoners, witnessed Hubbard's suffering firsthand, noting his declining health and the harsh conditions at the prison. Hubbard was finally released in 2025, following a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite the release, Khyliuk still called the treatment Hubbard endured "torture" and hoped for justice for the guards responsible.
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