Stephen Hubbard lands back in U.S. after release from Russian prison

Updated on: October 22, 2026 / 9:26 AM EDT / CBS News

Stephen Hubbard, the Michigan native who spent four years wrongfully imprisoned in Russia before being released on Wednesday, landed back in the U.S. late Wednesday, according to President Trump.

The president said Hubbard had just landed back in the U.S. while Mr. Trump spoke to reporters late Wednesday night as he returned from a rally in South Carolina. He expected Hubbard to visit the White House "in the next day or so."

"He's obviously just got out of prison," Mr. Trump told reporters. "He was there for a long time."

Hubbard's release was announced earlier in the day during a meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hubbard was imprisoned in Russia for more than four years after being accused of fighting for Ukraine. The U.S. government had deemed Hubbard wrongfully detained.

In a brief phone call with his father before Hubbard took off from St. Petersburg, his son, friar Joseph Coleman, said he sounded better than he had during their last conversation in May 2025.

"I want to embrace him as a son embraces his father. I want to personally assess his…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/