A 72-year-old American, Stephen Hubbard, has been sentenced to nearly seven years in Russian prison after being convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Hubbard was alleged to have been paid $1,000 a month to enlist in a Ukrainian defense unit in Izyum, where he had been residing since 2014. He was trained, given weapons and ammunition, and then detained by Russian soldiers two months later. Hubbard pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years and 10 months in prison, becoming the first known American to be convicted of such charges in the Ukrainian conflict.
Another American, Robert Gilman, was also sentenced to seven years and one month in prison in Voronezh, Russia for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers while serving a sentence for a previous assault. Gilman, a U.S. Marine veteran, was arrested for causing a disturbance while intoxicated on a passenger train in 2022 and then reportedly assaulted a police officer while in custody. He is already serving a 3 1/2-year sentence for that charge and was given the new sentence after assaulting a prison inspector and an official of the Investigative Committee.
Hubbard’s sister and a relative told Reuters that he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to have fought in battle at his age. Russian state media reported that Hubbard plans to appeal the verdict. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The charges against Hubbard and Gilman carry a potential sentence of 15 years, but prosecutors requested that Hubbard’s age and admission of guilt be taken into account.
The Russian court’s decision to sentence Hubbard and Gilman comes amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces have been conducting an offensive for years. Vuhledar, a Ukrainian stronghold, fell to the Russian offensive after two years of bombardment. The situation in Ukraine remains tense, with continued fighting and instability in the region. The sentencing of American citizens for their involvement in the conflict adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis.
It is noteworthy that Hubbard and Gilman are not the only Americans to be convicted of such charges in Russia. The case of Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who was traded for American basketball player Brittany Griner, also highlights the complex relationships and interests at play in the region. Bout, who is known for his involvement in arms trafficking, is reportedly planning to sell weapons to Iran-backed Houthi rebels. These cases underscore the multifaceted dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine and its broader implications for international relations and security.
As Hubbard and Gilman face their respective prison sentences in Russia, their cases serve as a reminder of the risks and consequences of involvement in conflicts abroad. The presence of foreign fighters in Ukraine and other conflict zones adds complexity to an already volatile situation. It remains to be seen how their cases will impact broader discussions around the conflict in Ukraine and international efforts to address the ongoing crisis.
