{
  "id": 15978335,
  "title": "Son of Stephen Hubbard, American freed from Russian jail, speaks out",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/son-of-stephen-hubbard-american-freed-from-russian-jail-speaks-out",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-22T00:51:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-hubbard-freed-american-russia-son-interview/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Father Joseph Coleman expressed relief upon learning his father, Stephen Hubbard, had been released from a Russian prison. The Greek Orthodox priest and his father shared a brief phone conversation last year, during which Hubbard mentioned feelings of extreme tiredness and a leaning towards suicidal thoughts. Coleman, who lives in Cyprus, was not aware of Hubbard's whereabouts for three years after his detention. Hubbard, a U.S. citizen, had been imprisoned in Russia for over four years on accusations of fighting for Ukraine, a claim the U.S. government deemed wrongful. President Trump stated that Putin had agreed to release Hubbard without a swap, though he also mentioned waiving new sanctions against Russia played a role. On Wednesday, Hubbard's release was announced during a meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Upon learning of his father's release, Coleman described it as a small step toward peace in the larger conflict and attributed the decision to compassion and mercy. He said he wanted to embrace his father and personally assess his health, giving Hubbard time to adjust to his newfound freedom. Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher, was captured in Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion in 2022 and sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony following a closed-door trial. His legal team found no evidence supporting the charges, and they had repeatedly sought evidence substantiating the claims. Despite the release, as many as 20 Americans remain imprisoned in Russia, and the State Department continues to warn against traveling to the country due to the risk of wrongful detention.",
  "summary": "In an interview with CBS News after Stephen Hubbard was released from Russian custody, his son, Fr. Joseph Coleman, said his father might have made a mistake in staying in Ukraine when the war began.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Russia frees jailed American Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff talks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/russia-frees-jailed-american-stephen-hubbard-during-witkoff-talks",
        "published": "2026-10-21T09:42:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Who is Stephen Hubbard? Why did Putin free the 74-year-old US teacher jailed as a Ukraine war ‘mercenary’? Explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/who-is-stephen-hubbard-why-did-putin-free-the-74-year-old-us-teacher",
        "published": "2026-10-21T18:06:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian Australia",
        "title": "MPs’ protections under scrutiny; Putin releases jailed US citizen; and National Geographic’s NZ pick",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/mps-protections-under-scrutiny-putin-releases-jailed-us-citizen-and",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:53:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Sister of American Stephen Hubbard says he’s in disbelief following release by Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/sister-of-american-stephen-hubbard-says-hes-in-disbelief-following-15972748",
        "published": "2026-10-21T21:53:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Sister of American Stephen Hubbard says he’s in disbelief following release by Russia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/sister-of-american-stephen-hubbard-says-hes-in-disbelief-following",
        "published": "2026-10-21T21:53:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Son of detained American Stephen Hubbard reacts to Russia releasing him after 4 years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/son-of-detained-american-stephen-hubbard-reacts-to-russia-releasing",
        "published": "2026-10-21T23:01:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Stephen Hubbard, US schoolteacher captured by Russia in 2022, freed by Putin in goodwill gesture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/stephen-hubbard-us-schoolteacher-captured-by-russia-in-2022-freed-by",
        "published": "2026-10-22T00:11:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after 4 years behind bars",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/russia-frees-american-stephen-hubbard-after-4-years-behind-bars",
        "published": "2026-10-22T02:16:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}