Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American amateur ballerina who resided in Los Angeles, has been released from a Russian prison as part of a prisoner swap orchestrated between the United States and Russia. Karelina had spent over a year behind bars after her arrest in Yekaterinburg in early 2024 during a family visit. She was accused by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) of supporting a Ukrainian organization purportedly providing military assistance to Ukraine.
The charges stemmed from a seemingly benign transaction made by Karelina— a single donation of $51 (£39) on the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 22, 2022. The charity she donated to maintains that its mission is focused on humanitarian aid and disaster relief, not arms or ammunition. The FSB reportedly discovered her donation via her mobile phone.
In a reciprocal gesture, the US released Arthur Petrov, a dual-national German-Russian citizen who had been jailed in Cyprus since 2023 on allegations of illegally supplying microelectronics to Russian military manufacturers. The swap occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Abu Dhabi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly pardoned Karelina.
During a cabinet meeting, former President Donald Trump indicated that Karelina’s release was facilitated through a request from UFC CEO Dana White, who advocated for her on behalf of the fighters’ community. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored that Karelina had been "wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year" and confirmed her journey back to the United States.
Karelina’s family expressed immense joy upon her release. Her father, Pavel, expressed gratitude towards both Trump and Putin, stating, "We are beside ourselves with happiness," reflecting on their emotional reunion.
This episode marks the second prisoner exchange between the US and Russia in a matter of months, indicating a nuanced approach to easing diplomatic tensions following the fallout from the Ukraine conflict. Meetings between US and Russian officials in Istanbul are also underway, aiming to restore some of the diplomatic relations that were diminished post-invasion.
