HELSINKI, Finland — Russian ice dancers Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski took the lead after the compulsory dance Tuesday at the European Figure Skating Championships.

The pair was awarded 37.43 points. Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali of Italy were second with 36.03 points, followed by British siblings Sinead Kerr and John Kerr with 34.89 points.

Defending champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia received only 33.53 points after Shabalin fell during the routine. That was still enough for fifth place behind French pair Nathalie Pechalat and Fabian Bourzat with 34.38.

World champions Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France are not competing because of Delobel's recent shoulder operation.