Russia tries 72-year-old US man fighting for Ukraine

Under Russian legislation, participating as a mercenary in a conflict can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

In May 2022, a video surfaced on YouTube featuring a man identifying himself as Stephen James Hubbard, claiming to be in Izyum, located in the Kharkiv region.

Hubbard stated he was originally from Big Rapids, Michigan, and had moved to Izyum in 2014. In the video, he appeared unkempt, sporting a long beard and visibly dirty nails.

Following the launch of its offensive, Russia occupied parts of the Kharkiv region, including Izyum, in the spring of 2022, but Ukraine successfully reclaimed the city in September of that year.

In recent years, Russia has detained several American citizens on various charges, including espionage, criticism of the military, minor theft, and domestic disputes.