Stephen Hubbard returns home, leaving ten other Americans in Russian custody

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, left a Russian prison on Wednesday after serving more than four years on mercenary charges related to the war in Ukraine. His release closes one chapter of a long diplomatic effort but leaves at least ten other American citizens in Russian custody. Russian authorities control information flow from the country, making it difficult to verify the exact conditions of the remaining detainees.

Travis Michael Leake, the frontman for the Moscow band Lovi Noch, has been in prison since 2023. He was convicted of drug-related offenses and sentenced to 13 years. His family wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating he was left behind during an August exchange that returned three other U.S. nationals. A representative for Leake, who lived in Moscow since 2010, told CBS News that the American is innocent. Leake recorded a message from prison saying, "I'm sorry I'm not a journalist. I'm sorry I'm not a basketball player."

Robert Woodland returned to Russia as an adult to find his birth mother after living with a U.S. foster family. In 2024, he pleaded partially guilty to drug trafficking charges. A court reduced his sentence to 9.5 years in 2025. His attorney, Stanislav Kshevitskii, said in October 2026 that there have been no updates to the case.

David Barnes faces a 21-year sentence in a penal colony after a custody dispute with his Russian ex-wife. Texas judges ruled in Barnes' favor between 2014 and 2018, but his ex-wife took their two sons to Russia in 2019. When Barnes traveled to Russia for visitation rights, he was convicted of sexual abuse. In a letter to his sons, Barnes wrote, "Thousands of people in America and Russia know I am innocent."

Daniel Schneider was sentenced to six years in prison in 2023 for kidnapping. He was arrested in July 2023 while crossing into Poland with his four-year-old son. Prosecutors argued the child's mother did not consent to the trip. Schneider traveled to Russia to reunite with the boy, a Russian citizen.

Gordon Black, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, was stationed in South Korea in May 2024 when he visited his girlfriend in Russia. She accused him of stealing money, leading to his arrest. A Russian court initially sentenced him to three years and nine months. Last year, that sentence was reduced to three years and two months.

Charles Wayne Zimmerman, a retired Navy veteran, was sailing his private boat in the Black Sea in June 2025. His family says he was ordered to follow a Russian Navy vessel to Sochi. He voluntarily declared a firearm on board and was arrested. He was convicted of arms smuggling in January 2026. His sister, Robin Stultz, alleges Russian authorities have denied him access to U.S. diplomatic representatives.

Andre Khachatoorian was detained in Moscow in December 2021 while traveling from California to Armenia. He asked to access his checked bag to retrieve medication, and police found a locked firearm case. Supporters say he had proper paperwork for the weapon. He was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2023 for arms trafficking.

Eugene Spector, born in Russia, received a total of 15 years in prison in December 2024 in an espionage case. His trial was held behind closed doors, and state media have not made the claims public. He had previously been sentenced to three and a half years in 2022 for facilitating bribes.

Aleksandr Antonov, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was detained at a passport check in March 2025. Border officers claimed his phone contained Telegram messages with anti-Russian sentiment. He was charged with extremism. The State Department is currently debating whether to designate Antonov as wrongfully detained.