Key facts
- Stephen Hubbard was freed from prison on Wednesday.
- At least nine other Americans are believed to be imprisoned in Russia.
- Aleksandr Antonov, a US-Russian-Ukrainian citizen, was sentenced to six years for inciting terrorism and extremism.
- US Navy veteran Chuck Zimmerman was sentenced to five years for arms smuggling.
- US Army staff sergeant Gordon Black was sentenced to three years and nine months for theft and threats.
- Daniel Joseph Schneider received a six-year sentence for kidnapping his son.
Russia freed Stephen Hubbard, a retired US schoolteacher, on Wednesday as Moscow and Washington held new talks about settling the war in Ukraine. At least nine publicly identified Americans are believed to remain imprisoned in Russia, though the full number may be higher. Hubbard's case was designated as wrongfully detained by the US State Department, a status that may facilitate efforts for his release. Other imprisoned Americans lack this designation, potentially limiting the scope for US government efforts to secure their freedom.
Aleksandr Antonov, a US-Russian-Ukrainian citizen, was detained in spring 2025 and sentenced to six years for inciting terrorism and extremism based on pro-Ukrainian comments. US Navy veteran Chuck Zimmerman was intercepted in June 2025 and sentenced to five years for arms smuggling after a rifle was found on his boat. Gordon Black, a US Army staff sergeant, was detained in May 2024 and sentenced to three years and nine months for stealing money from his Russian girlfriend and threatening her.
Daniel Joseph Schneider was sentenced to six years in September 2024 for kidnapping his son. Musician and former US serviceman Michael Travis Leake was sentenced to 13 years in July 2024 on drug-related charges. Robert Romanov Woodland, a US citizen adopted from Russia, was arrested on drug charges and sentenced to nine years and six months after an initial sentence of 12 years and six months was reduced. Eugene Spector, a Russian-born US citizen, was convicted of espionage in a closed trial and sentenced to 15 years. David Barnes was sentenced to 21 years on charges of abusing his two sons in the United States, a sentence later increased by six months. Andre Khachatoorian, an Armenian-American, was sentenced to eight years in 2023 for arms smuggling.