5 days ago · United States
Breaking: Putin announces release of imprisoned US citizen during meeting with Witkoff
What's happening
SignalsMonitor is following this as a politics story. ABC Australia is the outlet attached so far. The reports are tied to United States. The first report grouped here was at 21 Oct 2026, 09:44 UTC. 6 material updates are listed in the timeline. The headline in use is “Breaking: Putin announces release of imprisoned US citizen during meeting with Witkoff”. This note is SignalsMonitor's own briefing, not the publisher's article.
What we know
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old US citizen held in Russian custody since 2022, had been freed and was at Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg.
Story timeline
Reports grouped into this story, earliest first. Exact repeats from the same outlet are collapsed.
- First reported by ABC News
Detained American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia as Witkoff meets Putin
- New development reported by ABC Australia
Putin announces release of imprisoned US citizen during meeting with Witkoff
- Picked up by ABC Australia
Breaking: Putin announces release of imprisoned US citizen during meeting with Witkoff
- Picked up by ABC Australia
Breaking: Putin releases imprisoned US citizen during meeting with US envoy Witkoff
- New development reported by ABC News
Sister of Stephen Hubbard, released by Russia, thanks Trump as 'hand of God'
- Picked up by ABC News
Witkoff lauds 'humanitarian' Putin as Russia releases detained American
Reported by 1 outlet
- ABC