The Aporia · Sister of American held in Russia says he didn’t know he was being released until he saw US flag

Sister of American held in Russia says he didn’t know he was being released until he saw US flag

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Associated Press. (2026, October 23). Sister of American held in Russia says he didn’t know he was being released until he saw US flag. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/23/us-news/freed-american-stephen-hubbard-didnt-know-he-was-released-until-he-saw-us-flag/

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Quick Summary

Patricia Hubbard Fox, the sister of Stephen Hubbard who was freed after four years in a Russian prison, stated that her brother only realized his release when he saw the American flag on the plane taking him away from Moscow. During an interview in San Antonio, she described how her brother did not understand why he was being taken from the prison and initially feared for his life. Hubbard Fox also detailed the harsh treatment her brother endured during captivity, including starvation and severe beatings by Russian guards who called him derogatory names. The US government under President Biden had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, and legal teams dispute the Russian allegations against him.

Written by AI on 2026-10-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

On October 21, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen held since April 2022 on charges of mercenary activity in Ukraine, during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Huber was freed after serving nearly seven years of a prison sentence and arrived back in the United States on October 22. Hubbard's sister Patricia stated that he had no prior knowledge of his release until seeing an American flag on board the plane taking him to Pulkovo Airport. US President Donald Trump praised Putin for releasing Hubbard, highlighting it as a diplomatic victory despite criticism over Trump’s recent actions benefiting Russia and straining ties with Ukraine.

Written for “Stephen Hubbard's Release From Russia” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 29 other(s) covering the same event.

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1 of 21 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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Associated Press

601 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 601 articles by Associated Press →

Narrative

Claims (21 extracted, 1 hedged)

Sister of American held in Russia says he didn’t know he was being released until he saw US flag By asserted

he → hold → flag

The younger sister of Stephen Hubbard, the US citizen freed Wednesday after spending more than four years in a Russian prison, said her brother didn’t realize he was being released until he was put aboard a plane and saw the American flag. asserted

he → free → flag

“He didn’t know why he was being taken from the prison to Moscow, and he may have thought he was going to his death,” Patricia Hubbard Fox said during an interview Thursday in San Antonio, where her brother was taken for evaluation. uncertain

brother → know → evaluation

“He’s been kind of laughing a lot,” she added. asserted

she → laugh → ?

“Like relief laughing. asserted

relief → laugh → laughing

‘Oh my God, you know, I’m free. asserted

I → know → ?

This is really happening.’” asserted

This → happen → ?

The US government under the Biden administration had designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, and his legal team also disputed the Russian allegation, saying he was not involved in any military activity. asserted

he → designate → activity

Hubbard Fox said her brother was starved and beaten so severely in prison that some of his fellow inmates from Ukraine had to carry him. asserted

some → say → him

“The only English they knew was ‘Die, American. asserted

they → know → ?

Die,’” she said of the Russian guards. asserted

she → die → guards

“And that just made him mad enough to not die, you know? asserted

you → make → ?

‘I’ll show them.’ asserted

I → show → them

I’m so proud of him.” asserted

I → ’m → him

Hubbard, a US Air Force veteran, taught English overseas and retired in 2012 to Cyprus, where one of his sons is an Orthodox Christian priest. asserted

one → teach → sons

He later moved to Ukraine to be with a woman he had met, his lawyers said, and remained in the country after the relationship ended. asserted

relationship → move → country

He was living there at the time of Russia’s invasion. asserted

He → live → invasion

Hubbard Fox said she didn’t know where her brother was until a woman in Ukraine tracked her down after seeing a prison roster with his name on it. asserted

woman → say → it

“God doesn’t answer prayers immediately sometimes, but he always answers my prayer,” Hubbard Fox said. asserted

Fox → answer → prayer

“And I said, ‘Jesus, get him home.’” asserted

I → say → him

She said in a separate interview Wednesday that her brother would probably come live with her in Colorado, and they both were looking forward to a family reunion. asserted

they → say → reunion

Sister of American held in Russia says he didn’t know he was being released until he saw US flag

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Claims (21 extracted, 1 hedged)