American man pleads guilty in Moscow for fighting in Ukraine
- Stephen James Hubbard, a 72-year-old American, admitted to fighting for Ukraine against Russia and signed a contract for payment.
- He was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 during their occupation of Izyum, Ukraine.
- Hubbard's case is significant as he is the first U.S. citizen tried as a mercenary in Russia, reflecting the deteriorating relations between the two countries.
In Russia, a 72-year-old American man, Stephen James Hubbard, has pleaded guilty to charges related to mercenary activities after admitting to fighting for Ukraine against Russian forces. He signed a contract in February 2022 with a Ukrainian territorial defense unit, receiving a monthly payment of at least $1,000. Hubbard was captured by Russian troops in April 2022 during their occupation of Izyum, a city in eastern Ukraine. His case marks the first instance of a U.S. citizen being tried as a mercenary in Russia amid the ongoing conflict. Hubbard's sister has publicly denied that he was a mercenary, describing him as a pacifist who had never owned a gun. The maximum penalty for the charges he faces is 15 years in prison, reflecting the increasing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, particularly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces. The U.S. government has expressed concern over the detention of American citizens in Russia, which has become more frequent as diplomatic relations have deteriorated. Hubbard's situation highlights the complexities of international law and the risks faced by individuals involved in foreign conflicts, especially as the geopolitical landscape continues to evolve.