U.S. Citizen Suffered Extreme Torture in Russian Prisons, Former Ukrainian Detainees Reveal

Journalist Khyliuk was captured in the initial phase of the invasion, as Russian forces advanced on Kyiv.

Khyliuk observed that Hubbard’s health deteriorated over the months they shared adjacent cells, noting Hubbard’s frequent complaints and the increased frequency with which guards escorted him to the medical unit.

Khyliuk recounted stark conditions: shattered windows and biting cold forced inmates to cluster in the bathroom for any semblance of warmth.

“The conditions in Novozybkov were extremely harsh—far worse than the subsequent prison—and the winter cold was excruciating,” he said.

Both detainees later saw the retired English teacher at their next facility, Pakino, where Shyshko noted Hubbard’s health had sharply declined.

“Every inch of his knees and feet was festering with rot,” he said.

“Everything was infested with disease; we all suffered from scabies. Hubbard was especially deteriorated— so weak he could barely move— and I had to bandage his wounds at the medical centre because the doctor refused or was unable to do so.”

The men described a brutal regime, a diet consisting of meager portions of porridge, bread, and potatoes, and a daily regimen of beatings, humiliations, forced runs, and stress positions.

“A handler would release a dog to bite detainees on the buttocks, elbows, or legs, causing deep, festering wounds,” Shyshko recounted.

Khyliuk alleged that shortly after arriving at Pakino, Hubbard was concealed to prevent the International Red Cross team from observing his deteriorated state.

“An international humanitarian organization receiving substantial funding could have performed better; they were shown only curated scenes and remained satisfied,” he said.

The International Committee of the Red Cross responded, stating, ‘Whenever we are granted access, we request to examine every individual and assess their conditions; we continue to discuss this matter with all parties involved in the conflict.’

Khyliuk reported that Hubbard vanished from the prison in 2024, leading him to assume Hubbard had been released. Khyliuk himself was repatriated to Ukraine in August 2025 through a prisoner exchange.

He compared their ordeal to the oppressive tactics of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

“Russian captivity operates as a torture machine— from the moment of arrest, they systematically suppress and intimidate detainees through psychological and physical means: beatings, starvation, cold, total information deprivation, and isolation from even fellow prisoners,” he said.

Khyliuk expressed relief that Hubbard had finally been freed and was on his way back to the United States.

‘I know the horror of captivity; moreover, this was not his conflict—he simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,’ he said.

However, he characterized the timing as ‘shameless political opportunism by the U.S. president, who appears to be courting voters ahead of the congressional elections.’

Shyshko voiced hope that the perpetrators would one day be held accountable.

“‘Evil will be punished, and justice will prevail; I have that hope,’ he declared.”

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