Russian-American ballerina Ksenia Karelina has expressed profound gratitude after being released from Russian custody as part of a prisoner exchange. Following her arrival in the United States late Thursday night at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Karelina shared a heartfelt video message on social media.
Former President Donald Trump promptly amplified the video on his Truth Social account, writing simply, “Glad to have you back home.”
In her emotional statement, Karelina said, “Mr. Trump, I’m so, so grateful for you to bring me home and for [the] American government. And I never felt more blessed to be American and I’m so, so happy to get home. Thank you.”
The exchange involved Moscow releasing Karelina in return for German-Russian citizen Arthur Petrov. Petrov was arrested in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the United States, facing charges related to the illegal export of sensitive microelectronics.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the news on X, stating, “American Ksenia Karelina is on a plane back home to the United States. She was wrongfully detained by Russia for over a year and President Trump secured her release. POTUS will continue to work for the release of ALL Americans.”
Karelina’s initial arrest stemmed from accusations of “petty hooliganism” during a visit with family in Russia in 2024. The charges escalated, and she was ultimately sentenced to twelve years in a Russian penal colony after pleading guilty to treason, based on allegations that she donated $51.80 to a Ukrainian charity.
Russian authorities further alleged that Karelina, who resides in Los Angeles, had raised funds for the Ukrainian army and participated in actions supporting Ukraine while in the United States.
Despite being detained for over a year, Karelina was not included in a larger prisoner swap conducted in August 2024 which secured the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva.
Following her arrival, Karelina was reunited with her fiancé, boxer Chris Van Deerden, sharing a warm embrace. She is currently undergoing Post Isolation Support Activities, a reacclimation program designed for wrongfully detained individuals.
This marks the latest instance of an American citizen held in another country being brought home under the Trump administration. In February, Marc Fogel, an American history teacher detained in Russia since 2021, was also returned to the United States.
- Ksenia Karelina: Russian-American Ballerina
- Arthur Petrov: German-Russian citizen exchanged for Karelina.
- Marc Fogel: American history teacher previously released from Russia.
Fox News’ Lauralee Guidry, Elizabeth Pritchett and Alex Hogan contributed to this report.
