American Ballerina arrested in Russia for donation to Ukraine
A woman with dual nationality, holding residence in Los Angeles and possessing American citizenship, has been detained by Russian authorities on suspicion of treason. She is accused of raising funds to support Ukraine in its defense against the Kremlin’s invasion.
A senior U.S. official, speaking to NBC News, confirmed that the detained individual is Kseniya Karelina, a 33-year-old Russian-American ballerina who obtained U.S. citizenship in 2021.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), based in the city of Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains, announced early Tuesday the detention of a woman holding both Russian and American citizenship. However, they did not reveal her identity. The White House has stated its efforts to ensure consular access to the detained individual.