{
  "id": 17304842,
  "title": "Retired Michigan teacher released from Russian prison believed he would never be freed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/retired-michigan-teacher-released-from-russian-prison-believed-he",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T23:19:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/30/retired-michigan-teacher-released-russian-prison"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Retired Michigan teacher Stephen Hubbard, 74, has been released from a Russian prison after being jailed for over four years on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard expressed disbelief and skepticism about his impending release, stating that he only believed he would be freed when he received new clothes and was led to the prison exit. This marked the final step in what Hubbard saw as a process of \"seeing is believing\" and \"actions speak louder than words.\" Hubbard's legal team has denied the Russian allegations, asserting that he was not involved in any military activity during the conflict in Ukraine. The release of Hubbard from Russian custody has been seen by the international community as Russia's attempt to influence Donald Trump's stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine. It also provided Trump with a diplomatic triumph as he prepares for the upcoming midterm elections in November, anticipating a potential loss of congressional seats for his Republican party.",
  "summary": "Stephen Hubbard said that only when he was being taken from Moscow to St Petersburg did he believe he was ‘going somewhere’ In his first comments since recently being released from a Russian prison, a retired Michigan teacher said he only believed he would be freed when he got new clothes. Stephen Hubbard, 74, remarked on Friday that he had heard many times previously that he would be released –…",
  "key_points": [
    "Stephen Hubbard, 74, retired Michigan teacher, released from Russian prison after 4+ years.",
    "Jailed for alleged mercenary fighting in Ukraine, Hubbard denies Russian accusations.",
    "Release seen as Russian attempt to influence US politics ahead of midterm elections."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}