US ballerina Ksenia Karelina freed from Russian hellhole reveals what got her through the ‘darkest times’

The former U.S. ballerina who was freed from a Russian ‘hellhole’ prison has broken her silence in her first interview since her release.

In her first primetime interview since being freed in April, dual U.S.-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina, 33, revealed that it was her boyfriend Chris van Heerden’s ‘love and kindness’ that helped her endure her ‘darkest times.’

‘I feel like this experience gave me a lot. Other than it took a lot from me mentally and physically, I feel like it gave me a lot too,’ she said during an interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, 54, on Tuesday.

Karelina described van Heerden, 38, as her ‘biggest supporter’ throughout the entire 15-month ordeal, during which he reportedly spent every moment advocating for her release.

‘He helped me so much through all this and keep the smile on my face,’ she said.

Karelina was arrested in Russia after it was discovered she had donated $51 to Razom, a charity that provides aid to Ukraine, in 2022. 

She later pleaded guilty to treason and was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian penal colony.

However, the former ballerina was released in April 2025 as part of a major prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia. 

In return, Arthur Petrov – a Russian-German man who had been jailed in the U.S. on smuggling charges – was handed over to Russian authorities.

Despite the trauma she experienced, Karelina said the ordeal ultimately ‘changed [her] life.’

‘I feel like I just get stronger in my values and believing in kindness and love,’ she said. 

‘I strongly believe that this is what is going to help the world to get better. [Love and kindness] is what is going to drag you through the darkest places, darkest times of your life. I feel like this experience gave me a lot.’

Van Heerden spoke proudly of Karelina’s resilience and her belief that love helped guide her through her suffering.

‘Love wins no matter what,’ he said of his efforts to support her and push for her release. 

‘I believe everyone would have done what I did if they were in my position. I also don’t want people to forget what she’s been through – she is so strong.’

Since returning home, Karelina said she is focused on rebuilding a sense of normalcy in her life. 

She also expressed gratitude to Cuomo, whom she now considers ‘a friend.’

‘Thanks to Chris, I have the ability to take things slow, but I would really love to help people get through dark places,’ she said. ‘Because it was hard – what I went through – and I now know some tools to get through hard things.’

Karelina’s release occurred during an early morning prisoner swap between the intelligence agencies of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on April 10. 

The exchange in Abu Dhabi, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, signified a deepening relationship between the two superpowers.

She had been sentenced in August 2024 to 12 years in prison after a Russian court found her guilty of treason for donating $51.80 to the New York-based nonprofit supporting Ukraine. 

The U.S. government later declared her wrongfully detained and launched a diplomatic campaign for her release, along with several other American citizens.

The ballerina-turned-Los Angeles spa worker was arrested in February 2024 while visiting family in Yekaterinburg. 

After discovering the donation on her phone, Russia’s FSB security service accused her of collecting funds for the benefit of the Ukrainian army.

In exchange for her release, the U.S. freed Arthur Petrov, a German-Russian citizen arrested in 2023 in Cyprus. He was accused of using a Cypriot company to procure American microelectronics – supposedly for fire security systems – and then shipping them to a Russian company supplying the military.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who was reportedly involved in the negotiations with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov, greeted Karelina at the Abu Dhabi airport where the swap took place.

Karelina’s release marked the second U.S.-Russia prisoner exchange since Donald Trump took office in January.

In February, Russia freed Marc Fogel, a schoolteacher and former U.S. Embassy employee in Moscow. 

Fogel had served three and a half years of a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling after being caught with a small amount of marijuana. 

In return, Washington released Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian cybercriminal who had pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to conspiring to launder money.

At least ten other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia on various charges, with hopes that their government will secure their release. 

There are hopes that Trump’s efforts to renew diplomatic ties with Russia will see more prisoner swaps in the coming months.

‘The exchange shows the importance of keeping lines of communication open with Russia, despite the deep challenges in our bilateral relationship,’ a CIA spokeswoman told the WSJ following Karelina’s release.

‘While we are disappointed that other Americans remain wrongfully detained in Russia, we see this exchange as a positive step and will continue to work for their release.’