Two Ukrainians recount beatings and stun gun use on American veteran in Russian jails
Former cellmates describe physical abuse and medical neglect during the 74-year-old's 54-month detention.
By David Almasi ·
Stephen Hubbard spent 54 months in Russian custody before his release on October 23, 2026. Two Ukrainians who were detained with him in Novozybkov and Pakino prisons stated that Russian guards beat him, shocked him with a stun gun, and denied him medical care. The men described a pattern of abuse that began shortly after Hubbard's arrival in September 2022.
Hubbard was captured in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his partner. Russian authorities accused him of serving in the Ukrainian armed forces. He was later convicted in Moscow and sentenced to six years and ten months in prison. Dmytro Khyliuk, a journalist, and Ihor Shyshko, a captured soldier, were held in adjacent cells while Hubbard awaited trial.
Khyliuk said guards identified Hubbard by his nationality during inspections. The officers used obscene language and threatened him from the first days of his detention. Shyshko added that Hubbard was forced to learn Russian, sing the national anthem, and recite prison rules he could not read. Shyshko witnessed guards striking Hubbard on his legs, back, and arms. He also heard the sound of a stun gun being used on the American.
Conditions in the cells deteriorated over time. Khyliuk described broken windows and bitter cold that forced detainees to huddle in bathrooms for warmth. Hubbard's health declined as months passed. Guards summoned him to the prison doctor with increasing frequency. Shyshko noted that Hubbard was denied food and medical treatment while kept in cold quarters.
Hubbard was transferred to the Pakino prison, where his condition worsened. Shyshko observed rot on Hubbard's knees and feet. He bandaged the injuries at the medical center after a doctor refused to do so. The diet consisted of porridge, bread, and potatoes. Daily routines included beatings, forced running, and stress positions. Shyshko also described a guard setting a dog on prisoners to bite them.
Khyliuk said Hubbard was hidden from visiting International Red Cross staff after the transfer to Pakino. He claimed the guards showed the visitors only selected prisoners. The Red Cross stated it asks to see every individual granted access and continues talks with conflict parties on the issue. Hubbard disappeared from the prison roster in 2024, leading Khyliuk to assume he had been released.
Khyliuk returned to Ukraine in August 2025 through a prisoner exchange. He described the system as a torture machine comparable to the Stalin era. The Kremlin released Hubbard on the same day US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. President Donald Trump said he had requested Hubbard's freedom during a phone call with the Russian leader the previous week.
Shyshko said he hopes the perpetrators will face justice. He stated that evil must be punished. Khyliuk expressed relief that Hubbard was freed, noting that the conflict was not his. Both men provided detailed accounts of the physical and psychological treatment Hubbard endured during his long detention.
