Stephen Hubbard, 72, of Michigan, has been sentenced by a Russian court Monday after being convicted of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine.

A 76-year-old American who had signed a contract with the Ukrainian military and fought against Russia has been sentenced to prison in Russia.

Prosecutors claimed that Hubbard, who had been residing in Ukraine since 2014, joined a territorial defense unit in Izyum, Ukraine, during the early stages of the conflict. He was reportedly promised a monthly salary of at least $1,000. His defense team intends to appeal the conviction, according to state media Tass.