72-Year-Old US Citizen Sentenced To Six Years In Russian Prison For Fighting On Behalf Of Ukraine

A Russian court on Monday sentenced U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard to six years and ten months in prison for fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Russian investigators claimed the 72-year-old Michigan native, who moved to Ukraine in 2014, was paid $1,000 a month to defend the city of Izyum, according to the outlet. Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charges in a Moscow court last month following more than two years in captivity.

“Yes, I agree with the charges,” Hubbard said in his September plea hearing at Moscow City Court.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered 142,000 hryvnias ($3,400) be confiscated from Hubbard and paid to the Russian state, according to NBC News. The defendant has been in custody since April 2, 2022.

Hubbard’s sister, Patricia Fox, denied the charges, claiming her brother is “more of a pacifist” and was too old for combat.