Washington D.C. – KRDO13, April 03, 2025
The war in Ukraine is showing how far it’s spread with a connection right here in southern Colorado. A Russian court has sentenced a 73-year-old American citizen to almost seven years in a penal colony, accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
But his sister, who lives in Chaffee County, denies his involvement in the war and is begging for his release as his health continues to decline.
“I start getting the images of what they are doing to my brother,” says Patricia Hubbard.
Desperate cries for help from halfway across the world.
“Darkness, ugliness, cold, same clothes probably for the last three years the whole time.”
“His health is dire, he’s bleeding. The soldiers that have been freed say he’s passing blood.”
The State Department says Stephen Hubbard is wrongfully detained in Russia and has been moved to various prison camps since 2022. The Russians arrested him shortly after invading and accused him of fighting for Ukraine.
Video obtained by ABC News shows Stephen being held in an armored vehicle, beaten with a slipper.
