A 72-year-old U.S. citizen, Stephen Hubbard, was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison by a Russian court for serving as a mercenary in the war in Ukraine. Hubbard was paid to join a Ukrainian territorial defense unit and participated in the armed conflict, leading to his conviction after a brief trial. His case became public in September, and he has been in custody since April 2022.
Hubbard’s health deteriorated during the trial, and he pleaded guilty to the charges. Russian news agencies reported that he had been living in Ukraine since 2014. Another American, Robert Gilman, was also convicted in Russia for attacking prison staff and received a seven-year sentence.
Russia has arrested several Westerners on various charges, including espionage and being mercenaries for Ukraine. The country conducted a prisoner swap with the West on August 1, exchanging journalists and dissidents. The Moscow Times faces challenges due to censorship attempts, highlighting the importance of supporting independent journalism.