Freed American Paul Whelan opens up about life inside a Russian labor camp
Paul Whelan, who was arrested in Russia in 2018, got little sleep and used secret cellphones to communicate with prisoners sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.
Watch CBS News
Paul Whelan, who was arrested in Russia in 2018, got little sleep and used secret cellphones to communicate with prisoners sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.
In his first sit-down interview since his release from Russia, Paul Whelan said being left behind twice in prisoner swaps played with his mind.
The Marine veteran was released in August as part of a complex deal with Russia.
The village of Manchester came together Thursday to celebrate the return of Paul Whelan, who was released exactly two weeks ago after spending nearly six years as a prisoner in Russia.
Danny Fenster, who was imprisoned in Myanmar in 2021, summed up his return back home as surreal.
A plane carrying Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva landed at a military base in Maryland after they were freed by Russia in a prisoner exchange.
The Biden administration announced the release of three U.S. citizens from Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva, as part of a complex 24-person prisoner swap.
There are many smiles in the village of Manchester, where Paul Whelan's parents live. The tight-knit community is breathing a sigh of relief, hearing that Whelan is finally coming home.
Whelan has been held in Russia since December 2018, when he traveled to the country to attend a friend's wedding.
Michigan officials are reacting to the news that the Biden administration secured the release of Marine veteran Paul Whelan.
Family members of Paul Whelan, who has been in a Russian prison for nearly five years, have now gone to Washington, D.C., to speak with officials and advocate for his return.
A court in Russia has sentenced U.S. national Robert Woodland to more than 12 years in prison on drug charges, his lawyer says.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich went on trial behind closed doors in Russia on espionage charges he, the Journal and Washington vehemently deny. A conviction is considered almost certain.
A Moscow court says a U.S. man has been jailed for drunkenly crashing through a kid's library window, as an American soldier is also detained.
Russian President Vladimir Putin implied he wanted to make a prisoner swap in an interview with Tucker Carlson.
The State Department recently said the U.S. made a "significant" proposal for the release of Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich that was rejected by Russia.
A Russian court says a U.S. national identified as Robert Romanov Woodland has been detained on drug charges that carry a possible 20-year prison sentence.
Today, Dec. 28, marks five years since Russian authorities detained Michigan native and former Marine Paul Whelan, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says they will "not rest until he is safely back with his family where he belongs."
Whelan was first detained by Russian authorities in December 2018 while attending a friend's wedding. He was convicted in 2020 of espionage and sentenced to 16 years of hard labor.
American Paul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia for 5 years, says it's "unfathomable to me that they've left me behind."
Vladimir Putin held his first end-of-year news conference since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
Novi native Paul Whelan remains in a Russian prison.
Paul Whelan, an American businessman, has been wrongfully detained in Russia since 2018, and his brother is calling on President Joe Biden to get him released.
The State Department said "a number of proposals" have been made to secure the release of the wrongfully detained Americans.
Paul Whelan's family said a fellow prisoner hit him in the face and broke his glasses after he asked him to move out of the way.
It has been two weeks since a contentious Hamtramck City Council meeting sparked loud controversy when the council voted to fire City Manager Adel al-Adlani.
In a quick motion, the Detroit Pistons reportedly traded up from No. 21 to No. 17 to take Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie in the NBA draft on Tuesday.
Just months after winning their first NCAA championship title since 1989, the Michigan Wolverines celebrated several of their players who were selected in the 2026 NBA draft.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered, drove in two runs and scored twice and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.
Yaxel Lendeborg, the Michigan star and South Jersey native, was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.
President Trump says major automakers Ford and General Motors are in talks with defense contractors about possibly repurposing some plants for weapons production.
The Supreme Court rejected a Michigan family's argument that their home should have been sold at open-market value to cover an unpaid tax bill of just over $2,000.
A system transition away from decades-old tax processing technology contributed to slower refund timelines for Michigan taxpayers this spring, state officials confirmed Monday.
The shooting happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the 18700 block of Monica Street near Clarita Street, according to police.
It has been two weeks since a contentious Hamtramck City Council meeting sparked loud controversy when the council voted to fire City Manager Adel al-Adlani.
President Trump says major automakers Ford and General Motors are in talks with defense contractors about possibly repurposing some plants for weapons production.
According to AAA, the average cost of gas statewide sits at $4.07.
Ford is recalling more than 250,000 vehicles that were incorrectly repaired under a previous recall meant to fix a problem that caused the engine to stall while driving, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.
The United Auto Workers announced on Wednesday a tentative agreement with American Axle in Three Rivers, Michigan, ending a 10-day strike.
American Axle, which is headquartered in Detroit, is a Tier 1 supplier to General Motors. UAW members have launched a strike at its Three Rivers site.
National Detroit-style Pizza Day is June 23, a date tied to a dish that traces its roots to a Detroit neighborhood bar and a Sicilian family recipe from 1946.
Crews have been preparing all morning, getting everything ready for the show just after 10 p.m.
Clive Davis helped shape the careers of music stars including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston.
Claude Guillemot and a flight instructor were flying in a twin-motor Cessna 421 on Friday evening. An investigation into the crash is underway.
James Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television, including every episode of the original "Will & Grace."
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered, drove in two runs and scored twice and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.
President Trump says major automakers Ford and General Motors are in talks with defense contractors about possibly repurposing some plants for weapons production.
The Supreme Court rejected a Michigan family's argument that their home should have been sold at open-market value to cover an unpaid tax bill of just over $2,000.
The Supreme Court rejected a former Louisiana inmate's effort to sue state prison officials after they shaved his dreadlocks in violation of his religious beliefs.
The owner of Moore Honey estimated that only about a quarter of the 408 hives would survive.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer named a new acting director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ahead of current Director Elizabeth Hertel's departure.
On Monday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the state's second round of medical debt forgiveness.
Blood drives are happening all across Michigan, including one at the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America Michigan Chapter in Detroit.
An experimental fentanyl vaccine that has spent years in development is now entering a new phase, offering new hope in the fight against the nation's ongoing overdose epidemic.
Gallup found that only 49% of Americans were "cost-secure" last year, with concerns about medical bills and prescription costs rising across income groups.
It has been two weeks since a contentious Hamtramck City Council meeting sparked loud controversy when the council voted to fire City Manager Adel al-Adlani.
In a quick motion, the Detroit Pistons reportedly traded up from No. 21 to No. 17 to take Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie in the NBA draft on Tuesday.
Just months after winning their first NCAA championship title since 1989, the Michigan Wolverines celebrated several of their players who were selected in the 2026 NBA draft.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered, drove in two runs and scored twice and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.
Yaxel Lendeborg, the Michigan star and South Jersey native, was selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.
Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm appears exclusively on CBS Detroit's Michigan Matters.
We're in the throes of the 100 most dangerous driving days of the year as more folks take to the road for vacations.
Four leaders appear in one-on-one conversations on CBS Detroit's Michigan Matters this Sunday to discuss their political futures and the road ahead in the 2026 midterms.
Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health, headlines Michigan Matters this Sunday, along with three other community champions who discuss important issues dissected at the Mackinac Policy Conference.
It's the fourth year the Detroit Grand Prix has been on the streets of the Motor City after moving from Belle Isle.
State lawmakers held a rally at the Michigan Capitol on Tuesday, calling on their fellow lawmakers to address concerns about data center developments.
It has been two weeks since a contentious Hamtramck City Council meeting sparked loud controversy when the council voted to fire City Manager Adel al-Adlani.
In the last two months, the city of Auburn Hills, Michigan, has received countless complaints about Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service.
Rain returns in the evening on Wednesday and is isolated on Thursday. But our big focus is the high heat next week.
President Trump claims the problems with the Reflecting Pool in Washington are due to vandalism.