Russia sentences American, 72, to 7 years in prison for fighting for Ukraine

A 72-year-old American antheral was sentenced Monday to astir 7 years successful Russian prison aft helium was accused of warring for Ukraine.

Stephen Hubbard pleaded guilty successful the lawsuit and was sentenced to six years and 10 months down bars, according to Russian authorities media.

The Russians said Hubbard signed a declaration with the Ukrainian subject successful February 2022 aft Russia invaded. According to the Russians, helium was captured 2 months aboriginal successful the metropolis of Izyum successful eastbound Ukraine.

Russian forces took power of Izyum successful April 2022, but it was liberated successful a Ukrainian counterattack successful September 2022. However, that was excessively precocious to prevention Hubbard, who was down bars successful Russia the full time.

Hubbard’s detention was chartless globally until September 2024, erstwhile his proceedings began successful Russia. Prosecutors said helium was paid $1,000 per period successful speech for warring successful the Ukrainian military, according to Reuters quality service.

Though Hubbard pleaded guilty, his sister Patricia Hubbard Fox and different comparative told Reuters they were skeptical of his confession.

Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. national accused of warring arsenic a mercenary successful Ukraine against Russia shows up successful a video nexus arsenic helium stands successful a solid cage during a tribunal league successful Moscow tribunal connected Monday. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

“He is so non-military,” Fox told the outlet. “He ne'er had a gun, owned a gun, done immoderate of that … He’s much of a pacifist.”

Hubbard had lived successful Ukraine since 2014 and had fewer connections successful the country, surviving disconnected a tiny pension and ne'er learning the language, Fox told Reuters.

He is present 1 of respective Americans sentenced to years successful a Russian prison, adjacent aft a massive captive swap was completed successful August betwixt Russia and respective Western nations.

Also connected Monday, 1 of those Americans down bars, Robert Gilman, was sentenced to 7 much years successful situation for assaulting constabulary officers, according to Russian media.

Gilman, a erstwhile Marine, was archetypal detained successful 2022, aft Russian authorities claimed helium drunkenly attacked a bull connected a train. He was sentenced to 3 years successful that case, which paralleled Russia’s relationship of different erstwhile Marine, Trevor Reed, who was released successful a 2022 captive swap.

But the Russians said Gilman besides assaulted an serviceman during a regular captive checkup, and was fixed an further 7 years.

With News Wire Services