Russia releases L.A. woman arrested over Ukrainian charity donation in prisoner swap with U.S.

Russia and the U.S. carried out a prisoner exchange in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning “in a sign of continuing confidence building,” The Wall Street Journal reports.

Russia released Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American dual citizen, who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of treason for donating $51 to a Ukrainian charity.

In return, the U.S. freed Artur Petrov, a German and Russian citizen, who had been detained in Cyprus in 2023 at the request of the U.S. for alleged illegal microelectronics exports.

According to the Journal, negotiations for the exchange were led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. He reportedly had several phone conversations with FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov and Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Ratcliffe was present for the exchange. “Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia,” he told journalists. “I’m proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of U.A.E. for enabling the exchange.”