The well-known striker of Moscow Dynamo and the Russian national team Fedor Smolov has announced his marriage to Karina Istomina, a widely followed blogger and DJ. The couple kept their relationship private before the news, which has surprised many fans and observers alike.
They tied the knot on Monday, June 5, and shared wedding photos on their social media accounts to confirm the ceremony.
According to reports, Smolov and Istomina began dating only about a month before the announcement. The relationship details were not leaked to tabloids, and even close friends who offered public congratulations on Instagram appeared taken aback by the rapid development.
Smolov himself commented to Istomina’s post about the marriage, asking, “How do we do this?” The moment drew attention from prominent figures in sports and entertainment. Tennis star Svetlana Kuznetsova teased on Telegram that this move showcased Smolov’s speed beyond the football field, while Smolov’s friend and rapper Obladaet also sent a congratulatory remark.
enviable groom
Smolov has long been regarded as an enviable groom. His first marriage was to socialite Victoria Lopyreva, and after that relationship ended he reflected that his focus had shifted away from mere goals in football. During that period, Smolov faced disappointment by some observers in Russian football, but his career soon rebounded. He began scoring prolifically with his club in the Ural region, earning an invitation to Krasnodar where he finished as the top scorer in the Russian Premier League.
The trajectory continued with stints at Lokomotiv, a loan spell at Spanish club Celta where goals were scarce during the pandemic season, followed by moves involving Real Madrid and Barcelona before returning to Lokomotiv and then transferring to Dynamo Moscow. He remains a central figure for the blue and white, proudly representing the club today.
In the most recent season, Smolov delivered 10 goals and 6 assists across 24 Premier League appearances. Since the earlier relationship with Lopyreva, rumors or mentions of marriage have often linked his name with notable figures, including the 21-year-old Maria Yumasheva, granddaughter of the first Russian president Boris Yeltsin, though those connections were peripheral and speculative at the outset of their romance when she was under 18.
Who is Karina Istomina?
Karina Istomina, 29, is a dynamic media figure who has earned success as a DJ and a blogger. She is recognized as the only local DJ collaborator with Apple Music, curating official author playlists for the platform. Istomina has also released the album Chestbox Serpents, a collaboration with Ksenia Dukalis in 2019, blending rap and contemporary sounds.
She has openly discussed mental health challenges, detailing experiences with depression and drug addiction. In an interview, Istomina described how a history of undiagnosed conditions led to eventual diagnosis in 2020 of borderline personality disorder, which her treatment helped to improve her daily life. She emphasized the importance of seeking professional help, setting personal boundaries, and maintaining healthy communication in both personal life and work.
Istomina has been a co-host of the Girlfriends project, collaborating with Tatyana Mingalimova, Ksenia Dukalis, and Tatyana Starikova on the Gentle Editor YouTube channel since 2019. The program features conversations about feminism, self-esteem, bullying, sexuality, and other sensitive topics with guests including celebrities and experts.
Since February 2021, Istomina has hosted Musical Thursday on TikTok, welcoming a range of guests including music figures such as Ilya Lagutenko from Mumiy Troll. She continues to develop the program Kope is easier on her channel, a series that explores mental health topics with input from invited experts and stories of healing. Istomina has amassed a substantial following, with about half a million Instagram followers and a YouTube channel featuring the Kope is easier series that has grown to around 200,000 subscribers.