Kadyrova/Balchenko opened their season at the 2020 Russian test skates, an unscored event which allows the Russian Figure Skating Federation to evaluate the programs and condition of their national team members. They next competed at the second stage of the domestic Russian Cup series, the qualifying competition series to the national championships, in Moscow, where they finished second in a field of two behind Pavliuchenko/Khodykin. At their second Russian Cup assignment, the fourth stage in Kazan, they finished just off the podium in fourth place, and with a combined total of 28 points qualified to nationals.