Accessibility links

Breaking News

Ukrainian Pilot Jailed In Russia Could 'Die Within Days'


Jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko has been on hunger strike for nearly 80 days.
Jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko has been on hunger strike for nearly 80 days.

A member of the Kremlin's human rights council has said that jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko "could die within days."

Yelena Masyuk said on February 27 that she had visited Savchenko in jail the previous evening and the captive pilot's health had seriously deteriorated.

Savchenko has been on a hunger strike for nearly 80 days protesting what she calls her illegal detention and false charges brought against her.

Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine in June and taken to Russia, where she was charged with involvement in a mortar attack that killed two Russian journalists.

Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service issued a statement later on February 27 rejecting the claims by "journalist" Masyuk and claiming that Savchenko was being constantly monitored and was in no danger of dying.

The penitentiary service also questioned whether Masyuk had medical training that would allow her to comment on health issues.

Based on reporting by AFP, Interfax, and TASS

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG