Russia, US say Hubbard was not released in exchange for a Russian war blogger

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Russia released American retiree Stephen Hubbard after nearly two years in custody, a move both Russia and the U.S. insist was not part of a prisoner swap involving detained Russian war blogger Mikhail Zvinchuk. This rejection of exchange claims underscores ongoing tensions, as the U.S. continues to target Zvinchuk’s Rybar media group for alleged election interference and disinformation efforts.

Russia and the United States have both denied that the recent release of American national Stephen Hubbard from Russian custody was part of a prisoner exchange involving a Russian war blogger detained in Montenegro earlier this month.

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher, had been held in Russia since 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Hubbard’s release on Wednesday, describing it as a humanitarian gesture. US President Donald Trump said he had personally requested Hubbard's freedom from Putin and stressed that Russia did not seek anything in return.

The denials come amid speculation that Hubbard's release might be linked to the case of Mikhail Zvinchuk, a Russian war blogger appointed as director of the media organization Rybar. Zvinchuk was briefly detained in Montenegro on October 9 on charges related to spreading “Russian influence” before being expelled alongside three other Russians. Some commentators, including a former US ambassador, have suggested a possible connection between Hubbard’s and Zvinchuk’s releases. However, a spokesperson for the US State Department rejected these claims, stating that Hubbard’s release was a unilateral decision by the Russian government and was not part of any exchange or concessions.

The US State Department has placed a $10 million reward through its Rewards for Justice programme for information about individuals affiliated with Rybar, listing Zvinchuk as its director. Rybar is described as a media outlet formerly funded by the late Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, which allegedly manages social media channels promoting Russian government interests in the United States, including efforts to exacerbate divisions over immigration ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. The United Kingdom sanctioned Zvinchuk and others connected to Rybar in July, citing the group's role in spreading disinformation about Ukraine and interfering in European elections.

Moscow has consistently denied allegations of misinformation campaigns and sabotage, accusing Western nations of conducting anti-Russian propaganda. The State Department declined to comment on whether it played any role in Zvinchuk’s detention by Montenegro or if it requested his extradition.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also dismissed the suggestion of a swap between Hubbard and Zvinchuk when questioned by reporters, saying, "That’s not right."

Thus, official statements from both Russia and the United States maintain that Hubbard’s release was independent of any arrangement involving Zvinchuk or related political conditions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.