Ballerina Freed in US-Russia Prisoner Swap After Long Detention

Wed Oct 22 2025 04:15:39 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Ksenia Karelina, an amateur ballerina jailed in Russia, is finally back in the U.S. following a high-stakes prisoner exchange.

Ksenia Karelina was held in a Russian penal colony for over a year due to her charitable donation to Ukraine. She has now been released in a prisoner swap that involved the U.S. freeing Arthur Petrov.

Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballerina, is back in the U.S. after a tense prisoner swap with Russia. Detained in Yekaterinburg since early 2024, Karelina was sentenced to 12 years for donating to a U.S.-based charity aiding Ukraine. The U.S. exchanged her for Arthur Petrov, a dual citizen accused of exporting technology to Russian military firms.

The swap took place in Abu Dhabi, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming her return. “She was wrongfully detained for over a year,” Rubio stated. Former President Trump played a significant role in securing her release.

This swap marks the second high-profile exchange between the two nations within two months, highlighting ongoing tensions and complex diplomatic negotiations involving prisoners and their fates.