Ksenia Karelina (born 1991) is a Russian-American ballet dancer who has been imprisoned for treason by the Russian government.
[4][5] Karelina was not released as part of the extensive 2024 Russian prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States.
[9] Karelina was arrested in early 2024 while visiting her family in Yekaterinburg and charged with treason by the Russian government for sending $51.80 to Razom, a New York City-based nonprofit organization that sends humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Razom denied claims by Russia's FSB that it collects money for weapons and ammunition.
[10] Her boyfriend Chris Van Heerden said he does not understand how Russian authorities knew about her donation, adding that Karelina believed she was in no danger before traveling to Russia.