Ksenia Karelina, a former ballerina and dual citizen of the US and Russia, recently opened up about her difficult journey after being sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison. She was arrested in 2023 on charges of treason for sending money to a charity aiding Ukraine on the day Russia’s invasion began. Despite the harsh sentence, she was freed just over a year later in a prisoner exchange and returned to Maryland.
In a heartfelt interview with NewsNation, Karelina shared how the experience took a heavy toll on her physically and mentally but also helped her grow stronger in her beliefs. She spoke about the power of kindness and love in helping people survive their darkest moments.
Her boyfriend, Chris Van Heerden, was her main source of strength during her imprisonment. He advocated for her release and welcomed her back home, describing her time behind bars as a nightmare. Karelina said his support kept her smiling through the hardest days.
Now, she hopes to use her experience to support others facing difficult times, taking life one step at a time with the help of Chris and the lessons she has learned.
