Russian Strictly Dancers: What Strictly Dancers Are Russian?

Katya Jones and Luba Mushtuk are Russians on Strictly Come Dancing.

Jones was born in Sestroretsk, near Leningrad, Soviet Union and started dancing at the age of six, training in gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin-American dancing.

Her father is a senior oil company executive and her Korean mother is a graduate in engineering.

Luba was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In 2018, the BBC announced that Mushtuk would join the cast of professional dancers on the British television show Strictly Come Dancing.

She won the 2018 Children In Need special with Shane Lynch. She also competed in the 2018 Christmas special, paired with EastEnders actor and Strictly Come Dancing 2014 contestant, Jake Wood.

In 2021 it was announced she would dance with Jay Blades for the 2021 Strictly Christmas Special.

For Series 17 of Strictly, Mushtuk was partnered with rower James Cracknell. They were the first couple to be eliminated after losing the first dance-off to David James & Nadiya Bychkova.

For series 18, she was partnered with former NFL player and sports pundit, Jason Bell. They were the second couple to be eliminated after losing the second dance-off to Nicola Adams & Katya Jones