Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American retired English teacher, is
after spending more than four years in a Russian prison on charges of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
asserted
Hubbard → spend → Ukraine
But for as many as 10 other Americans, including some with dual Russian nationality, the wait continues as they remain in Russian custody.
asserted
they → include → custody
Russian authorities tightly control all information that comes out of the country, so the detainees' circumstances can be hard to verify, but here's what we know about some of the Americans still locked up in Russian prisons and labor colonies.
asserted
we → control → prisons
Travis Michael Leake, an American rock musician who fronted the Moscow-based band Lovi Noch, was arrested in 2023 on charges of organizing the sale of drugs.
asserted
who → front → drugs
He was convicted of drug-related offenses and
to 13 years in prison.
asserted
He → convict → prison
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Leake's family said he was "left behind" when he was excluded from the August
that brought home three other U.S. nationals.
asserted
that → say → nationals
A representative for Leake, who had lived in Moscow since 2010, maintains the American is innocent, telling CBS News: "Travis is no drug dealer.
asserted
Travis → live → News
I'm sorry I'm not somebody that's important," Leake said in a message recorded in prison advocating for his release.
asserted
Leake → say → release
Robert Woodland returned to Russia after living with a U.S. foster family for most of his life, hoping to track down his birth mother.
asserted
Woodland → return → mother
He told a Russian newspaper in 2020 that he decided to move there after connecting with her through a Russian TV show.
asserted
he → tell → show
In 2024, Woodland pleaded partially guilty to Russian drug trafficking charges and was
.
asserted
Woodland → plead → charges
His sentence was reduced to 9½ years in 2025.
asserted
sentence → reduce → 2025
Stanislav Kshevitskii, an attorney for Woodland, told CBS News in October 2026 there have been no updates to his case.
asserted
Kshevitskii → tell → case
David Barnes and his Russian ex-wife were embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their two sons in Texas.
asserted
Barnes → embroil → Texas
During the dispute, Boricovna accused Barnes of sexually abusing the two boys, but law enforcement found insufficient evidence to file charges.
asserted
enforcement → accuse → charges
Texas judges ruled repeatedly between 2014 and 2018 that Barnes should remain a joint custody guardian.
asserted
Barnes → rule → 2014
After losing her bid for sole custody, his ex-wife took the boys to Russia in 2019.
asserted
wife → lose → 2019
When Barnes went to Russia to pursue visitation rights, his ex-wife again accused him of sexual abuse.
asserted
wife → go → abuse
He was convicted in a Russian court and
to 21 years in a penal colony.
asserted
He → convict → colony
In a letter from prison to his sons, Barnes maintained his innocence, writing: "Thousands of people in America and Russia know I am innocent …
asserted
I → maintain → America
You know I am innocent as well.
asserted
I → know → ?
Don't worry, we will be together again …
asserted
we → worry → ?
I love you so much.
asserted
I → love → you
I was devastated when your Mom took you from me.
asserted
Mom → devastate → me
Daniel Schneider is being detained in Russia amid what a website advocating for his release describes as a "complex international child custody dispute."
Schneider traveled to Russia to reunite with his 4-year-old son, a Russian citizen.
asserted
Schneider → detain → son
In July 2023, he was arrested while attempting to cross into Poland with the boy and was later sentenced to six years in prison for kidnapping after prosecutors said the child's mother did not consent to him leaving the country.
asserted
him → arrest → country
Gordon Black
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant
was stationed in South Korea in May 2024 when he traveled to Russia to visit his girlfriend.
uncertain
he → station → girlfriend
U.S. officials and Russian authorities say he was arrested after she accused him of stealing money from her and was eventually sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison.
asserted
she → say → prison
In June 2025, retired U.S. Navy veteran and electrician Charles Wayne "Chuck" Zimmerman was pursuing his lifelong dream of sailing the world aboard his private sailboat.
asserted
Zimmerman → pursue → sailboat
When he reached the Black Sea, his family says he was ordered to follow a Russian Navy vessel under threat of military action.
asserted
he → reach → action
Zimmerman followed the vessel to Sochi, where he voluntarily declared a firearm on board.
asserted
he → follow → board
He was arrested, and later convicted of arms smuggling and given a
in January 2026.Zimmerman's sister, Robin Stultz, alleges that Russian authorities have denied her brother access to U.S. diplomatic representatives since his arrest and says she would not trust any confession they claim he made.
uncertain
he → arrest → confession
Andre Khachatoorian was traveling from California to Armenia to visit his wife's family for the holidays in December 2021 when he was detained during a layover in Moscow.
asserted
he → travel → Moscow
According to a website advocating for his release, he asked to access his checked bag to retrieve medication, and police noticed a locked firearm case inside.
uncertain
police → accord → case
Supporters argue that he had proper paperwork for the weapon and allege that a Russian police officer tricked him into applying for a Russian visa before removing him from the airport.
asserted
officer → argue → airport
Khachatoorian was charged with arms trafficking in Russia and sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in 2023, Reuters reported.
asserted
Reuters → charge → 2023
In December 2024, a Russian court sentenced Eugene Spector to a total of 15 years in prison in an espionage case.
asserted
court → sentence → case
The claims against him have not been made public by state media, and his trial took place behind closed doors.
uncertain
trial → make → doors
Spector, who was born in Russia, had previously pleaded guilty to facilitating bribes to an aide to a former Russian deputy prime minister and was sentenced to three and a half years in prison in 2022.
asserted
who → bear → 2022
A year later, Spector was
, and in 2024 he was handed an .Aleksandr Antonov
asserted
he → hand → an
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
