American Ballerina Ksenia Karelina Discusses Ordeal in Russian Prison and Warm Welcome Home

Ksenia Karelina, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Russia, recently opened up about her year-long imprisonment in Russia, where she was detained for treason over a small donation she made to a charity aiding victims of the Ukraine war. After traveling to her home country in January 2024 to visit family, she faced an unsettling experience at border control when authorities detained her upon discovering her American passport, leading to an excruciating 11-hour interrogation that marked the beginning of her harrowing ordeal.

The ballerina described the surreal nature of her arrest and subsequent sentence to a Russian labor camp, unsure of how reality could mirror the prison narratives she's seen in films. Despite her loyalty to Russia, Karelina faced the heartbreaking reality of being imprisoned by her own country, which devastated her patriotic family.

Throughout her imprisonment, Karelina relied on her family's support and drew inspiration from literature to endure her confinement. She adopted a mentality of perseverance, focusing on taking "just one more step" each day to survive the challenging experience. Communication with her boyfriend, Chris Van Heerden, was vital; their letters provided encouragement, and his unwavering belief in her eventual freedom kept her spirits up.

Karelina's hope was realized when she was released on April 10, 2025, as part of a prisoner exchange. Upon returning to the U.S., she met former President Trump in the Oval Office, describing the encounter as comforting and friendly. She credited Trump for his role in securing her release and expressed gratitude for how he genuinely cares about citizens caught in distress. Now back home, she continues to advocate for the release of other Americans imprisoned in Russia, including Olga Jezler, while wishing for an end to the conflict in Ukraine to prevent further needless loss of life.