Former cellmates describe beatings and medical neglect of freed American

The release of a long-held American citizen has brought new attention to the conditions inside Russian detention facilities. Two Ukrainian men who were imprisoned with Stephen Hubbard in 2022 say they witnessed him endure beatings, cold, and medical neglect during his time in custody.

Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, and Ihor Shyshko, a captured soldier, both met Hubbard at the Novozybkov prison in September 2022. Khyliuk stated that guards targeted Hubbard immediately upon his arrival. He reported that staff would search for his cell during inspections and use abusive language to mock him. Shyshko added that Hubbard was forced to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and memorize prison rules he could not read.

Shyshko provided specific details about the physical abuse Hubbard faced. He said guards struck Hubbard on the legs, back, and arms, and used a stun gun on him. The former soldier also claimed Hubbard was denied adequate food and medical care while being kept in freezing temperatures. Shyshko alleged that staff subjected Hubbard to sexual humiliation and abuse for their own amusement, a claim supported by statements from Hubbard's family.

Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, was captured in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine. Russian authorities accused him of serving in Ukraine's armed forces. A trial in Moscow resulted in a sentence of six years and 10 months. Khyliuk noted that Hubbard's health deteriorated significantly while he waited for trial. He described broken windows and bitter cold at Novozybkov, forcing detainees to huddle in bathrooms for warmth.

The men were later transferred to the Pakino prison, where Shyshko said Hubbard's condition worsened. He described Hubbard's knees and feet as having no spot without rot. Shyshko said he had to bandage Hubbard's wounds himself because the prison doctor refused to treat him. The detainees described a daily routine of forced running, stress positions, and beatings, along with a diet consisting mainly of porridge, bread, and potatoes. Shyshko also recalled an instance where a guard set a dog on prisoners to bite them.

Khyliuk claimed that Hubbard was hidden from International Red Cross inspectors after the transfer to Pakino. He said the prison staff only showed visitors what they wanted them to see. The International Committee of the Red Cross responded that it asks to see every individual when granted access and continues discussions with conflict parties on this issue. Khyliuk later observed Hubbard disappearing from the prison in 2024, leading him to assume the American had been released, though he was not informed at the time.

The Kremlin released Hubbard after four and a half years of detention. This occurred on the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to discuss the war in Ukraine. Witkoff referred to Putin as a humanitarian during the meeting. President Donald Trump stated that he had requested Hubbard's freedom from Putin during a phone call the previous week. Khyliuk, who returned to Ukraine in a prisoner exchange in August 2025, called the timing shameful public relations for the US president. Shyshko expressed hope that those responsible for the abuse would eventually face justice.