📢 Statement

A Russian court in Moscow sentenced 72-year-old US citizen Stephen Hubbard to 6 years and 10 months in prison for participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict in Ukraine.

Moscow, Ukraine
Likely Reported by 2 independent sources
Kyiv Post Kyiv Independent

Two or more independent sources agree on the core facts. Additional sources would further strengthen this assessment.

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Entities

Source Reports

What each source reports. "Source tone" reflects the language used by the outlet — it is not an independent verification.

Kyiv Post → Source tone: certain

Stephen Hubbard was convicted of 'participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict' after a brief trial largely held behind closed doors.

Kyiv Post → Source tone: likely

Hubbard was paid at least $1,000 a month to join a Ukrainian territorial defense unit and underwent training.

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: certain

A Moscow court sentenced 72-year-old American Stephen James Hubbard to nearly seven years in prison for fighting in Ukraine as "a mercenary,"

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: likely

Hubbard reportedly had been living in Ukraine since 2014.

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: likely

He joined a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in the town of Izium in Kharkiv Oblast

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: likely

Russia accused Hubbard of allegedly agreeing to fight for Ukraine for $1,000 per month

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: certain

Hubbard had pleaded guilty to the charge

Kyiv Independent → Source tone: certain

The sentence is expected to be appealed

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Extraction metadata

Extracted: 2026-02-18T13:39:24.345Z

Source story: 40152