VLADIMIR Putin’s cronies have detained a US woman on suspicion of high treason and left her facing 20 years behind bars.
Ksenia Karelina, 33, was taken away by Russia‘s FSB security services on suspicion of raising just £41 for the Ukrainian army.
Ksenia Karelina has been detained by Russia for raising money for the Ukrainian army
Karelina, 33, could now face up to 20 years in prisonEast2West
She has been suspected by Russia of collecting funds for Ukraine ever since Putin started his bloody war
Chilling footage shows her being taken away with her eyes covered by the Federal Security Service.
One man – dressed in a balaclava and combat uniform – guides her down some stairs before putting her in handcuffs.
Karelina was then ushered into a silver car by the armed FSB special services officer.
She left Russia and went to live in Los Angeles where she is believed to be married to an American man.
She received US citizenship in 2021.
Russian state news agency TASS reported: “The Federal Security Service in Yekaterinburg suppressed the illegal activities of a 33-year-old resident of Los Angeles, who has dual citizenship of Russia and the United States.”
She was allegedly “involved in providing financial assistance to a foreign state”.
And is accused of participating in public events in the US to help support Ukraine.
Karelia is suspected of collecting money for a Ukrainian organisation for the past two years since Putin invaded Ukraine and started his bloody war.
Russia viewed the organisation as aiding the Ukrainian military with the cash collected.
She was caught as she made her way to Russia – where she completed university – to see her parents.
She was later seen in the footage behind bars in a pretrial detention jail as she awaits a hearing.
Political scientist Fyodor Krasheninnikov claimed: “She probably supported Ukraine a couple of times on social networks, maybe she collected something there.
“If you participated in any anti-war protests, wrote something on social networks, or, especially, donated to Ukrainians or encouraged them to do this, think a hundred times.
“Do you really need to go to Russia urgently? A second passport will not save you from anything.”
Russia has arrested other US nationals on bogus charges.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is currently in jail on seemingly made up espionage charges.
Putin’s war in Ukraine wreaks devastating death toll
A staggering 10,000 Ukrainian civilian deaths have been recorded since Putin launched his brutal invasion in February 2022.
But the UN believes that the real number is much higher.
This estimate includes more than 560 children.
Ukraine is also thought to have lost at least 70,000 soldiers in the fight against Russia.
174 civilian citizens from other countries have also been killed during Putin’s offensive – three of which were from the UK.
Meanwhile, it has been estimated that Russia has only lost 79 civilians.
Putin has lost over 300,000 soldiers in bloody meat-grinder battles since the start of his war.
Just ten months into his own war, Putin had already lost 100,000 Russian men.
East2WestShe was arrested going to see her parents in Russia[/caption]