– Yes, I agree with the accusation – the American allegedly said. Stephen James Hubbard, 72, was arrested last week for six months. He faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
According to the Hubbard prosecutor's office signed a contract with the Ukrainian territorial defense unit in the city of Izium in the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast Ukrainy. This took place at the beginning of a full-scale war Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.
War in Ukraine. He fought against Russia. The American pleaded guilty
According to the prosecutor's office, he was promised $1,000 a monthtrained, and given weapons and ammunition. American he was taken prisoner on April 2 the same year.
Hubbard, who is from Michigan, worked abroad as an English teacher for several decades, his sister Patricia told Reuters. She denied that her brother was a mercenary and he was interested in any war.
According to his sister, Hubbard moved to Ukraine in 2014 and lived there for a while with a woman, living on a modest pension.
Russia. The American pleaded guilty. He was supposed to fight on the side of Ukraine
He is one of ten Americans still in Russian prisons after an August 1 prisoner exchange. Then the Russians they released 16 peoplein exchange for eight Russians serving a prison sentence in United States i Europe.
The people released by Russia included US citizens, including: RFE/RL journalist Alsou Kurmashevareporter Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.