UKRAINE | TUNGARU PRESS | October 25, 2026
A 74-year-old American citizen who recently returned home after more than four years in Russian detention was allegedly subjected to repeated beatings, humiliation and severe mistreatment, according to two former Ukrainian prisoners who say they witnessed his suffering.
Stephen Hubbard, a retired English teacher, was released by Russian authorities earlier this month after spending approximately four and a half years in captivity.
His release has brought renewed attention to allegations of abuse inside Russian detention facilities, where former prisoners describe harsh conditions, inadequate medical care and systematic mistreatment.
In interviews with BBC News, former Ukrainian detainees Dmytro Khyliuk and Ihor Shyshko described how Hubbard was allegedly singled out by prison guards because of his American nationality.
Their accounts support earlier allegations made by Hubbard's family that he had been tortured while imprisoned in Russia.
Captured During Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
Hubbard was detained in April 2022 after Russian forces occupied the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum, where he had been living with his Ukrainian partner.
Russian authorities accused him of serving in Ukraine's armed forces.
Following a trial in Moscow, he was convicted and sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison.
Hubbard was held in several Russian detention facilities during his imprisonment, including Novozybkov prison in the Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border.
It was there that he encountered Khyliuk and Shyshko, who later provided accounts of his alleged treatment.
Both men said Hubbard attracted particular attention from guards because he was an American.
Former Prisoners Describe Beatings and Humiliation
Khyliuk, a Ukrainian journalist detained during the early stages of Russia's invasion, first encountered Hubbard at Novozybkov prison in September 2022.
He recalled prison guards repeatedly asking which cell held the American detainee.
According to Khyliuk, officers used abusive language, threatened Hubbard and subjected him to intimidation from the beginning of his imprisonment.
Shyshko, a captured Ukrainian soldier, provided a similar account.
He alleged that guards forced Hubbard to learn Russian, sing the Russian national anthem and memorise prison regulations that he struggled to read.
Shyshko also claimed he witnessed or heard Hubbard being beaten and subjected to electric shocks from a stun gun.
According to his testimony, guards struck Hubbard on different parts of his body and deliberately treated him more harshly because of his nationality.
He further alleged that Hubbard was denied sufficient food and medical attention and was exposed to extremely cold conditions.
Shyshko also described incidents of sexual humiliation and abuse, which he alleged were carried out by prison staff.
These claims have not been independently verified by Tungaru Press.
Harsh Prison Conditions Reportedly Damaged His Health
The former detainees described extremely difficult conditions inside Novozybkov prison.
Khyliuk said broken windows allowed freezing air into the building during winter, leaving prisoners struggling to stay warm.
He recalled detainees gathering in bathrooms during limited periods outside their cells to escape the cold.
Khyliuk also said he became aware that Hubbard's health was deteriorating because he could hear the American complaining about his condition and being summoned more frequently for medical attention.
Both former prisoners later encountered Hubbard at another detention facility in Pakino.
According to Shyshko, Hubbard's health had worsened significantly by that time.
He alleged that the elderly American developed severe skin problems and infected wounds affecting his legs and feet.
Shyshko said prisoners were also suffering from scabies and other health problems associated with poor detention conditions.
On one occasion, he claimed he personally helped bandage Hubbard because medical staff were unwilling to provide the assistance he needed.
He described Hubbard as physically weak and struggling to move independently.
Allegations of Systematic Abuse Inside Russian Prisons
The two former detainees said their experiences reflected a wider pattern of mistreatment inside Russian detention facilities.
They described inadequate meals consisting mainly of basic foods such as porridge, bread and potatoes.
They also alleged that prisoners were subjected to repeated beatings, forced physical exercises and painful stress positions.
Shyshko claimed guards sometimes used dogs to attack detainees, leaving injuries that could become infected because of poor medical care.
Khyliuk described Russian captivity as an environment designed to intimidate and psychologically break prisoners.
He said detainees experienced isolation, hunger, cold and restrictions on communication, alongside alleged physical abuse.
His account presents a disturbing picture of conditions faced by prisoners during the conflict.
Questions Raised Over International Red Cross Visits
Khyliuk also alleged that Hubbard was deliberately concealed from representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) during a visit to Pakino prison.
He claimed prison authorities moved Hubbard out of sight to prevent humanitarian visitors from observing his deteriorating physical condition.
Khyliuk criticised the effectiveness of international monitoring, suggesting that inspectors were unable to assess the full reality of detention conditions.
Responding to the BBC, the ICRC said that whenever it receives access to detention facilities, it requests permission to meet every detainee and assess the conditions
