Freed American Stephen Hubbard returns to U.S. after Russian imprisonment
publishers 68articles 87first reported 20 Oct, 19:53 UTCdeveloping since 21 Oct · 12 editions
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher held by Russia for more than four years, returned to the United States early Thursday and arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for a medical evaluation.
Russian forces captured Hubbard in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his Ukrainian partner. Russia accused him of serving with Ukraine’s armed forces and convicted him in Moscow, sentencing him to six years and 10 months in a penal colony. His family disputed the allegations, and the U.S. government designated him as wrongfully detained.
Hubbard was freed on the day U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. President Donald Trump said he had asked Putin during a phone call the previous week to release Hubbard and said no prisoner exchange was required. Trump also said Hubbard could visit the White House soon.
Two former Ukrainian prisoners told the BBC that Russian guards beat, threatened and humiliated Hubbard during his detention. One, Ihor Shyshko, alleged that guards shocked Hubbard with a stun gun, denied him food and medical care, exposed him to cold conditions and subjected him to sexual abuse. Their accounts support earlier allegations by Hubbard’s family that he was tortured.
Hubbard’s son, Joseph Coleman, said before his father left Russia that he wanted to assess his health and embrace him upon their reunion.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 72 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 68
- Source articles
- 87
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 72 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Correct the timing of Hubbard’s arrival at Lackland Air Force Base to early Thursday. - "returned to the United States late Wednesday and arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for a medical evaluation": The Hill says Hubbard arrived at Lackland Air Force Base early Thursday morning, not late Wednesday.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Freed American Stephen Hubbard returns to U.S. after Russian imprisonment
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired schoolteacher held by Russia for more than four years, returned to the United States lateearly WednesdayThursday and arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio for a medical evaluation.
Russian forces captured Hubbard in April 2022 in Izyum, Ukraine, where he lived with his Ukrainian partner. Russia accused him of serving with Ukraine’s armed forces and convicted him in Moscow, sentencing him to six years and 10 months in a penal colony. His family disputed the allegations, and the U.S. government designated him as wrongfully detained.
Hubbard was freed on the day U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. President Donald Trump said he had asked Putin during a phone call the previous week to release Hubbard and said no prisoner exchange was required. Trump also said Hubbard could visit the White House soon.
Two former Ukrainian prisoners told the BBC that Russian guards beat, threatened and humiliated Hubbard during his detention. One, Ihor Shyshko, alleged that guards shocked Hubbard with a stun gun, denied him food and medical care, exposed him to cold conditions and subjected him to sexual abuse. Their accounts support earlier allegations by Hubbard’s family that he was tortured.
Hubbard’s son, Joseph Coleman, said before his father left Russia that he wanted to assess his health and embrace him upon their reunion.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →