LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan native Stephen Hubbard is a free man after more than four years in Russian custody.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff announced Hubbard’s release Wednesday during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.

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The 74-year-old retired English teacher from Big Rapids was captured by Russian forces in Ukraine in 2022. He had lived in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum since 2014.

A Russian court sentenced Hubbard in 2024 to six years and 10 months in prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. His family disputed the allegations, and the U.S. government designated him wrongfully detained.

President Donald Trump announced Hubbard’s release on Truth Social early Wednesday, saying he had directly requested it during a telephone conversation with Putin last week.

Trump described the arrangement as unprecedented, saying the United States was not required to give anything in return and that no prisoner swap was necessary.

“Welcome home Stephen, it’s great to have you back,” Trump wrote.