A Russian court sentenced American citizen Stephen Hubbard to almost seven years in prison after it convicted him in a closed-door trial of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Prosecutors accused Hubbard, 72, of receiving $1,000 per month in exchange for fighting with a territorial defense unit of Ukraine's military in the eastern city of Izyum since the war began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Feb. of 2022. Hubbard was captured less than two months later, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti.
In a closed trial on Monday, Hubbard stood handcuffed inside a glass cell and removed a hat from his shaven head as a judge pronounced him guilty. He appeared emotionless, Reuters reported.
Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charges, the outlet reported. But his sister, Patricia Fox, and another relative told Reuters they doubted the truth of his confession.