Nadiya Savchenko, a military pilot and political figure, rose to international prominence after her 2014 capture in eastern Ukraine during the War in Donbas. One of the first women in the Ukrainian military to train as a bomber pilot, she transitioned from a career in aerial warfare to serving as a deputy in the Verkhovna Rada while held in Russian detention.
Military Career and Training
Born in 1981 in Kyiv, Savchenko entered the Ukrainian military as a radio operator and paratrooper, notably serving in Iraq as part of peacekeeping troops between 2004 and 2008. She successfully petitioned the Defence Ministry to attend the Ivan Kozhedub National University of the Air Force. Despite academic challenges, she graduated as a navigator, eventually accumulating 170 flying hours on the Mil Mi-24 helicopter. She also sought to pilot the Sukhoi Su-24 bomber during her service with the 3rd Regiment of the Army Aviation in Brody.
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In December 2013, Savchenko was ordered to Kyiv by President Viktor Yanukovych, where she joined Euromaidan demonstrations. Following the departure of the president, she volunteered as an instructor with the Aidar Battalion. On 17 June 2014, she was captured near the village of Metalist by the Zarya Battalion, a pro-Russian militant group. By July 2014, Russian authorities held her in a detention centre in Voronezh, accusing her of complicity in the deaths of two Russian journalists.
Legislative Tenure and Prisoner Exchange
While imprisoned in Russia, Savchenko was elected to the 8th Verkhovna Rada in 2014 and became a representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2015. On 25 May 2016, she was released in a prisoner swap for Russian officers Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov. Following her return, she served as a People's Deputy of Ukraine until 2019. In 2018, she faced domestic charges regarding a planned attack, though she was released in 2019.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 May 1981, Kyiv
- Military Rank: Captain, Senior Lieutenant
- Education: Ivan Kozhedub National University of the Air Force
- Political Office: People's Deputy of Ukraine (2014-2019)
- Notable Award: Hero of Ukraine, Order of the Gold Star
- Languages: Ukrainian, Russian
- Detention: Voronezh, Russian Federation
Questions readers ask
Was Nadiya Savchenko a pilot?
Yes, she was one of the first women to train as a military airplane pilot in Ukraine, specializing as a navigator on the Mi-24 attack helicopter.
What happened to Savchenko during the War in Donbas?
She was captured by pro-Russian forces in June 2014 and transferred to Russia, where she was tried and convicted of involvement in the deaths of two journalists before being released in a 2016 prisoner swap.
