In a surprising turn of events, a 72-year-old American citizen, Stephen James Hubbard, has been sentenced to six years and 10 months in a Russian prison for fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine.
Hubbard, a native of Michigan, was paid $1,000 (£760) a month to serve in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in the eastern city of Izyum.

However, his sister and other relatives have cast doubt on his reported confession, telling Reuters that he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to have taken up arms at his age.

Despite this, Hubbard was found guilty in a closed-door trial and is now facing a lengthy prison sentence in Russia.

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine and the potential consequences for foreign nationals caught up in the conflict.