Stephen Hubbard, an American national who had been held in Russia since the early phases of the conflict in Ukraine, has been released. Hubbard, 74, was originally detained after being accused of participating in the war as a mercenary on behalf of Ukrainian forces. He had been serving a prison sentence in Russia prior to his release.

The circumstances surrounding his release were confirmed by President-elect Donald Trump, who claimed credit for the diplomatic effort. According to Trump, he personally requested Hubbard’s release during a recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the Washington Examiner reports that Hubbard was captured while fighting for Ukraine, the specific details regarding his legal status and the terms of his release remain limited in the provided reports. There is no mention in the available sources of involvement from the current Biden administration or the U.S. State Department, which typically handles prisoner release negotiations.