Former cellmates describe brutal treatment of freed American

Former inmates who were held alongside Stephen Hubbard claim that the 74 year old American endured systematic torture and humiliation during his time behind Russian bars. Two Ukrainians, a journalist and a soldier, provided detailed accounts of the abuse they witnessed or heard during their shared captivity.

Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, first encountered Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov prison in the Bryansk region, an area close to the Ukrainian border. Khyliuk stated that Russian guards identified Hubbard immediately and targeted him from the start. He recalled that inspectors would ask which cell held the American, using rude language to threaten and mock him during those early days.

Ihor Shyshko, a Ukrainian soldier who was also captured, corroborated these claims. He noted that Hubbard's nationality made him a prime target for the prison officers. According to Shyshko, Hubbard was forced to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules that he could not read because he was not literate in the language. Shyshko said he directly observed guards beating Hubbard on his legs, back, and arms. He also reported that Hubbard was shocked with a stun gun, denied adequate food and medical attention, and kept in freezing conditions.

Shyshko further alleged that Hubbard suffered sexual humiliation and abuse intended to amuse the prison staff. These testimonies align with previous statements made by Hubbard's family regarding his treatment in custody. Hubbard was originally captured in April 2022 when Russian forces took the city of Izyum, where he lived with his Ukrainian partner. Russian courts later convicted him of serving in Ukraine's armed forces and sentenced him to six years and ten months in prison.

Khyliuk described a steady decline in Hubbard's health while they were in neighboring cells at Novozybkov. He could hear Hubbard's complaints and noted that guards sent him to the prison doctor with increasing frequency. The prison conditions were described as harsh, with broken windows and severe cold. Detainees often used their limited time outside their cells to huddle in bathrooms for warmth. Khyliuk stated that the environment at Novozybkov was worse than at the next prison in line.

The two men later saw Hubbard at the Pakino prison, where Shyshko said his condition had deteriorated significantly. Shyshko described Hubbard's knees and feet as covered in rot. He recalled bandaging Hubbard at the medical center after a doctor refused to do so, noting that Hubbard was too weak to move easily. The prisoners described a daily routine that included beatings, forced running, and stress positions, alongside a diet of porridge, bread, and potatoes. Shyshko also mentioned an instance where a handler set a dog on prisoners to bite them.

Khyliuk claimed that shortly after the transfer to Pakino, Hubbard was hidden from view to conceal his physical state from visiting International Red Cross staff. Khyliuk stated that the observers only saw what the guards chose to show them and appeared satisfied with that presentation. The International Committee of the Red Cross responded by saying that it asks to see every individual whenever granted access and continues discussions with the conflict parties on this matter.

Hubbard disappeared from the prison in 2024, leading Khyliuk to believe he had been released. Khyliuk himself returned to Ukraine in August 2025 through a prisoner exchange. He compared the treatment of prisoners to the Stalin era, describing Russian captivity as a torture machine. He expressed happiness that Hubbard was free, noting that it was not his war, but criticized the timing of the release as shameful public relations for the US president, who is facing congressional elections.

The Kremlin released Hubbard on the same day that US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg to discuss the war in Ukraine. Witkoff referred to Putin as a humanitarian following the meeting. US President Donald Trump stated that he had asked Putin to free Hubbard during a phone call the previous week. Shyshko expressed hope that those responsible for the abuse would face justice, stating that evil must be punished.

The release of Hubbard marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the human cost of the war and the complex negotiations taking place between world leaders. The accounts of his former cellmates add a layer of detail to the broader narrative of prisoner treatment in the region.