72-year-old American sentenced for fighting for Ukraine
- 8 October, 07:47
A court in Russia has sentenced a 72-year-old American to six years and ten months in prison for fighting for Ukraine. Stephen James Hubbard was convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine in exchange of $1,000 of payment per month during the court proceeding on Monday.
Investigators said the American national received training, weapons and ammunition when he signed up during the start of the war in February 2022. He was detained two months later, Russian state news agency RIA reported, adding that Hubbard’s lawyer would appeal against the verdict.
Hubbard’s family has expressed skepticism over Russian media reports that he has pleaded guilty. Hubbard’s sister told US media in September that he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to have taken up arms at his age.
Kyiv and Washington have not commented on Hubbard’s trial yet.
The Ukrainian foreign affairs ministry has not replied to multiple messages seeking comment about the fate of Hubbard. A spokesperson for the US embassy in Moscow has also declined to answer reporters’ question about the convicted US citizen.
