Poroshenko Asks Putin to Free Jailed Pilot as EU Warns over Her Health

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday he has sent a letter to Russia's Vladimir Putin asking him to free jailed pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who has been on a hunger strike for nearly three months.

"I have sent a letter to President Putin with an appeal for immediate freedom for Nadiya Savchenko, including for medical reasons," Poroshenko said in a press conference after meeting Italian premier Matteo Renzi.

Savchenko, 33, has been on a hunger strike for 82 days to protest her arrest for alleged involvement in an attack that killed two Russian journalists on eastern Ukraine's frontlines, where she was enlisted as a volunteer in one of the battalions fighting pro-Russian rebels.

She has lost over 20 kilograms since going on strike.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that the letter has not yet reached its destination and declined to provide any reaction.

Poroshenko on Monday honoured Savchenko, who was in October elected as a lawmaker and is a symbol of defiance in Ukraine, with the top state title Hero of Ukraine for her "indestructible will" and "sacrifice for the Ukrainian people."

as EU Says Ukrainian Pilot jailed in Russia at risk of death

Later on Wednesday, the EU's foreign policy chief warned that Savchenko is now at risk of death.

"Ms. Savchenko has now been on hunger strike for 82 days. After such an extended period of time, she faces permanent damage to her health, or death," Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

"Once again, I add my voice to all of those calling on the Russian authorities to urgently release Ms. Savchenko on humanitarian grounds."

Mogherini said a Moscow court had on Wednesday rejected another appeal by Savchenko, 33, against her detention.