Russian-US citizen Ksenia Karelina was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty of donating money to a charity that purchases equipment and ammunition for the Ukrainian Army.

In addition to her prison sentence, the 33-year-old was given an 18-month probation period along with a 300,000 Russian rubles ($3,400) fine, according to a statement issued by the court in Ekaterinburg.

The prosecutors requested a 15-year sentence for the defendant due to her donation to the organization on February 24, 2022, while Karlina's attorney Mikhail Mushailoy told RBK he would appeal the verdict. He also declared that the court's decision to destroy Karelina's mobile phone which was labeled as physical evidence used to donate was "absolutely illegal."

The lawyer told TASS that he hopes Karelina will be released as part of a prisoner exchange deal between the United States and Russia in the future. 

The donation amount was not disclosed by the court, although a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, told CNN that the 12-year sentence for sending “50 bucks to try to alleviate the suffering of people [in Ukraine]” was “vindictive cruelty.” 

US reporter caught in the act hiding USB with classified Russian data

This is not the first time Russia has arrested a US citizen for treason or espionage.

RT received exclusive footage of the moment Russian law enforcement apprehended Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as he sought to hide what seemed to be a flash drive with illegally obtained confidential material. The journalist was one of those traded in last week's historic prisoner swap between Russia and the West.

Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage in 2023 in "the interests of his country." 

The previously unreported video released on August 5 depicts Gershkovich's arrest in March 2023 in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg. The journalist is shown eating in a restaurant with his "source", while the two debate in Russian how to send over classified material about the country's military sector in a method that won't enable the Russian authorities to track the leak.

As Russian operatives arrive, Gershkovich attempts to hide what seems to be a flash drive with the data beneath the table before being apprehended. At the time, the Kremlin claimed the reporter was "caught red-handed," while Russia's Investigative Committee alleged he was conducting espionage for the CIA.

Gershkovich has maintained his innocence, citing he was only performing his job as a reporter.

A Russian court sentenced him to 16 years in prison last month while the current US administration has called him "wrongfully detained". However, the journalist was one of 16 Western detainees involved in last week's historic swap arrangement.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) confirmed the successful return of eight Russians who had been detained in various NATO countries. The exchange took place at Ankara Airport, Turkey, and was part of a complex negotiation involving multiple parties.