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Former Ukrainian pilot Savchenko tells court she never aimed at unarmed persons

According to the investigators, Savchenko's actions allegedly resulted in the death of two Russian journalists

Nadezhda Savchenko (background) and her lawyer in court Valery Matytsin/TASS

Nadezhda Savchenko (background) and her lawyer in court

© Valery Matytsin/TASS

DONETSK (Rostov Region), February 3. /TASS/. Former Ukrainian military pilot Nadezhda Savchenko said at the questioning in court that she killed people at war but never killed unarmed persons, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene on Wednesday.

"The only thing I never could do was to aim at unarmed persons. I am a soldier, not a murderer. I repeat it once again for prosecutors. I could not aim my weapons at unarmed persons even if they were enemies. No arms - no fight. If they shoot at me, I will shoot back. In response to a question from the prosecutor - have I ever killed people? Yes, I have. I killed those who tried to kill me. I killed those who attacked my land. I killed in defense. I never killed anyone on malicious intent," Savchenko, charged with complicity in the murder of two Russian journalists in east Ukraine in 2014, said.

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Hearings on Savchenko’s case started on September 22 and still continue.

Russian investigators say Savchenko, the gunner of a Mi-24 helicopter, joined the Aidar militant battalion and in June of 2014 was conducting covert surveillance and direction of artillery bombarding targeting a checkpoint in the much-troubled Luhansk region.

According to the investigators, Savchenko's actions allegedly resulted in the death of two Russian journalists - Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin - for the All-Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (VGTRK)

If found guilty, Savchenko faces up to 25 years in prison.

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Ukraine crisis Nadezhda Savchenko

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