Stephen Hubbard's son: 'It’s tragic when family members are torn apart' by Russian captivity

Stephen Hubbard, a retired U.S. teacher, was released from Russian captivity after being accused of fighting for Ukraine. His son, Father Joseph Coleman, expressed relief and joy at the news, despite concerns about potential mistreatment during Hubbard's imprisonment. Coleman emphasized that his father's connection to Russian Orthodoxy is religious, not political, and he hopes to visit both Russia and Ukraine for spiritual reasons. Coleman also highlighted the tragedy of families being separated due to the conflict and expressed gratitude to those involved in his father's release. Criticism arose regarding U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's praise for Putin, with political figures questioning the appropriateness of such remarks given the ongoing humanitarian crisis.