4.5 Years: Former Cellmates Detail Allegations of Abuse Against Freed US Citizen

Two former prisoners held alongside the freed American citizen Stephen Hubbard have provided detailed accounts of abuse they say they witnessed during his detention. Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, and Ihor Shyshko, a captured Ukrainian soldier, describe a pattern of humiliation and physical violence targeting the American. Their statements align with claims made by Hubbard's family regarding his time in custody.

Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, was detained for more than four years. He was arrested in April 2022 in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum during the occupation, where he lived with a Ukrainian partner. Russian authorities accused him of serving in Ukraine's armed forces. A trial in Moscow resulted in a sentence of six years and ten months.

Khyliuk first encountered Hubbard in September 2022 at the Novozybkov prison in the Bryansk region. He alleges that guards targeted Hubbard due to his nationality. "They came during inspections and were asking: in which cell is the American? And then they used obscene words. They threatened him, they mocked him from the first days," Khyliuk said.

Shyshko recalls that during Hubbard's arrival, officers forced him to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite rules he could not read. Shyshko claims he saw guards strike Hubbard on the legs, back, and arms. He also alleges the use of stun guns against the detainee. Shyshko stated that Hubbard was denied food and medical care and was kept in the cold. He further alleges sexual humiliation for the amusement of prison staff.

Both men were held with Hubbard while he awaited trial. Khyliuk describes conditions at Novozybkov as severe, with broken windows and bitter cold. He noted that detainees huddled in bathrooms for warmth and that Hubbard's health declined during this period. Khyliuk reported hearing complaints from Hubbard's cell and frequent visits to the prison doctor.

The detainees were later transferred to a facility in Pakino. Shyshko describes Hubbard's condition as deteriorating further. "There was not a single spot on his knees or on his feet without rot," Shyshko said. He recalled bandaging Hubbard when the doctor refused to do so. The inmates were fed porridge, bread, and potatoes, while facing beatings, forced running, stress positions, and dog attacks.

Khyliuk alleges that after the transfer to Pakino, Hubbard was hidden from International Red Cross staff to conceal his condition. He said, "They saw only what was shown to them and they were happy with that." The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that wherever access is granted, it seeks to see every individual and assess conditions, and it continues to discuss this with conflict parties.

Khyliuk said Hubbard disappeared from prison in 2024, leading him to assume a release. Khyliuk returned to Ukraine in August 2025. He compared the treatment to the Stalin era and called Russian captivity "a torture machine." Shyshko hopes perpetrators will face justice, stating, "Evil must be punished, and so it will be."

Hubbard was released after four and a half years on October 23, 2026. The release followed a meeting in St Petersburg between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine. Witkoff called Putin a "humanitarian." US President Donald Trump said he asked Putin for Hubbard's release in a call the previous week. Khyliuk called the timing "shameful PR of the US president, who is losing votes in elections to Congress."