American Man, 72, Pleads Guilty in Russia to Fighting for Ukraine

Stephen James Hubbard admitted to mercenary charges in a Moscow court, though his family disputes the claims.

Stephen James Hubbard, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to charges of mercenary activity in a Moscow court.
Hubbard allegedly signed a contract with a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in Izyum in February 2022 and was promised $1,000 a month.
He was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 and has been in pre-trial detention for six months, facing a potential sentence of seven to 15 years.
Hubbard's sister, Patricia Fox, claims he is non-military and unlikely to have fought, describing him as a pacifist who had lived in Ukraine since 2014.
Hubbard is among at least 10 Americans currently detained in Russia, with U.S.-Russia relations strained to Cold War-era lows.