Ukrainian : Savchenko launches another hunger strike

A Ukrainian helicopter navigator who spent two years in a Russian jail has announced she will start another hunger strike if Ukraine’s government doesn’t try harder to get prisoners of war returned home.

Nadiya Savchenko, who was freed through a prisoner swap in May, is now an MP for an opposition party and a thorn in President Poroshenko’s side.

She has been demanding for the release of about 25 Ukrainians via prisoner swap still held by Russia or Pro-Russian separatist in eastern Ukraine.

“One of the mechanisms to speed up my release was a hunger strike over the inaction of the Ukrainian authorities. Starting from today, I again announce a hunger strike over the inaction of those who hold power in the world over the issue of releasing Ukrainians from captivity. I will be on hunger strike until there is a positive result,” she told journalists.

Savchenko’s defiance at Russian authority while in captivity earned her a hero’s welcome when she returned to Ukraine she has said she could run for president at some stage.

Releasing prisoners of war is one of the terms of the Minsk peace deal which was brokered in February 2015.

Since the conflict started in April 2014 over 9,400 people have been killed.