Ukrainian army pilot Nadezhda Savchenko appears in Moscow court
- 9 years ago
A Ukrainian army pilot was paraded in front of the media Tuesday before appearing in a Moscow court, where she could face charges of illegally crossing the border into Russia.
Nadezhda Savchenko was seized by pro-Russian separatists in June.
She was fighting on the ground for a pro-Kiev militia near Luhansk on the border with Russia.
During her appearance, she accused Russia of perpetrating the violence in eastern Ukraine.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ARMY PILOT, NADEZHDA SAVCHENKO, SAYING:
"Why do you protect your interests on our land with the blood of our people? Defend yourself on your own territory. If Russia wasn't in Crimea, there wouldn't be a war in Donbass."
She's also been accused of involvement of the deaths of two Russian journalists killed in the conflict.
Her supporters hail her as a hero in Ukraine, where she was elected to parliament in absentia.
Nadezhda Savchenko was seized by pro-Russian separatists in June.
She was fighting on the ground for a pro-Kiev militia near Luhansk on the border with Russia.
During her appearance, she accused Russia of perpetrating the violence in eastern Ukraine.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ARMY PILOT, NADEZHDA SAVCHENKO, SAYING:
"Why do you protect your interests on our land with the blood of our people? Defend yourself on your own territory. If Russia wasn't in Crimea, there wouldn't be a war in Donbass."
She's also been accused of involvement of the deaths of two Russian journalists killed in the conflict.
Her supporters hail her as a hero in Ukraine, where she was elected to parliament in absentia.