US BALLERINA Ksenia Karelina has been reunited with her boyfriend after finally being released from her Russian prison hell.

Karelina was jailed under Vladimir Putin’s evil regime for 12 years over a £40 donation to charity before being freed this week as part of a prisoner exchange.

A plane carrying Karelina landed in Washington late on Thursday night as she was greeted by her emotional family.

Boyfriend and martial artist fighter Chris van Heerden was among the first to hug Karelina as the pair shared a hug and kissed as those around them cheered.

Karelina had been in a Russian jail since last year after pleading guilty to treason after donating just £40 to a pro-Ukraine charity which had links to the military.

The ballerina and aesthetician was visiting family in Russia in January when she was snatched by the FSB and detained.

She was later seen in footage released by Russia handcuffed and with a beanie over her eyes as she awaited a hearing.

Karelina was handed over to the US as part of a prisoner exchange deal in Abu Dhabi.

Russia were handed Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen, in return.

He was arrested in 2023 for allegedly exporting sensitive microelectronics.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and a senior Russian intelligence official arranged the deal, according to a CIA official.

After greeting Karelina in the Middle East, Ratcliffe released a statement where he praised both Donald Trump, the United Arab Emirates government and the CIA for securing the release of the ballerina.

He told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ): “Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia.

“I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of UAE for enabling the exchange.”

The latest in a range of prisoner exchanges between the US and Russia in recent months comes as the two nations continue to grow closer to securing peace in Ukraine.

Despite the latest swap being a success a CIA spokesperson was clear that the US will continue to apply pressure on Moscow to release all US citizens imprisoned.

They announced: “The exchange shows the importance of keeping lines of communication open with Russia, despite the deep challenges in our bilateral relationship.

“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.”

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