The release places Hubbard's case in the context of high-level U.S.-Russia discussions. The BBC and Deutsche Welle reported that Putin announced Hubbard's release during his talks with Witkoff. The Hill also reported that U.S. President Donald Trump announced the development on Truth Social after Witkoff said Hubbard had been released.
The Hill described Hubbard as an American teacher who had been serving a seven-year prison sentence in Russia. According to The Hill, Russian prosecutors had accused him of working with Ukraine as a mercenary after Russia's invasion. That allegation is attributed to the prosecutors and is not independently established in the supplied material.
Deutsche Welle reported that Hubbard had been taken captive by Russian forces years earlier in Ukraine. The supplied reporting does not provide a detailed account of the precise terms or mechanism of his release.
The BBC reported that Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport. The available evidence does not establish Hubbard's whereabouts after that reported transfer, and it does not provide further details about what happened at the airport.
The release comes as U.S. citizens remain detained in Russia, according to reporting by Euronews. Euronews cited the Foley Foundation, a hostage advocacy group, as estimating that around two dozen Americans remained held in Russian prisons for various reasons.