Freed ballerina Ksenia Karelina returns to US after being sentenced to 12 years in Russian jail over donation

Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has finally been freed and returned to the United States after being sentenced to 12 years in Russian jail over a $51 Ukraine charity donation.

Karelina, who obtained US citizenship in 2021 after moving to Los Angeles, was arrested in Yekaterinburg in February of last year after returning to Russia to visit her family.

According to Russian rights group The First Department, the charges followed Karelina's $51.80 donation to New York-based charity Razom for Ukraine - an act which saw Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accuse her of 'proactively' collecting funds for an organisation which would buy ammunition, medical supplies and weapons for the Ukrainian army.

Razom for Ukraine has said its donations only go to humanitarian projects.

The FSB is believed to have discovered the charity transaction after inspecting her phone.

Karelina pleaded guilty to treason, in the hopes of receiving a lighter sentence, her lawyer previously said, but was sentenced to 12 years in jail.

However, on Thursday (10 April), US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the news that Karelina had been released and was on a plane home to the US.

He said she had been 'wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year', adding: "President Trump secured her release. [The President] will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans."

Trump said during a Thursday cabinet meeting that the release of Karelina was a request from Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.

"Dana White, called me and he said it's the friend or the relationship of one of the fighters, UFC or one of the fighters, and Dana is an incredible guy, and we spoke to President Putin about it, and they made a deal," he stated.

She was freed as part of a prisoner exchange between the States and Russia which was negotiated between the CIA and senior Russian intelligence officials.

The likes of Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen who was accused of illegally exporting microelectronics to Russia for manufacturers working with the Russian military, was freed in exchange for Karelina.

Ksenia, a beautiful ballerina held for over a year in Russia is on our 🇺🇸 plane en route home! Thank you @realDonaldTrump! And the A team @SteveWitkoff @SecRubio @CIADirector @MikeWaltz47 🇺🇸💪 https://t.co/v5zRLPksBn pic.twitter.com/8SaNIGYIoz

— Adam Boehler (@aboehler) April 10, 2025

According to the FSB, Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned Karelina before the swap.

Karelina's parents have since shared a message of thanks to both Trump and Putin following their daughter's release.

"I guess that deal must have involved them both," her father, Pavel, told the Wall Street Journal. "We are beside ourselves with happiness.

"The first seconds of our chat were all pure emotions, I can't even remember what we were saying, it was like one explosion of happiness."