Nadia Savchenko's long-awaited return to Ukraine

First pictures taken of Nadia Savchenko on Ukrainian soil (gallery)

Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadia Savchenko May 25 returned to Ukraine after almost two years of captivity, first of pro-Russian militants in Donbas and then in the Russian jail.

The long-awaited return home of Nadia Savchenko was made possible due to her exchange for two Russian GRU officers Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev convicted in Ukraine for participation in hostilities in Donbas.

The presidents of Russia and Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin mutually "pardoned" Savchenko, Alexandrov and Yerofeyev respectively.

As UNIAN reported earlier, after Savchenko was sentencing March 22, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that Ukraine was ready to transfer to Russia GRU officers Alexandrov and Yerofeyev, in exchange for the release of the Ukrainian female pilot and MP Nadia Savcnehko.

On April 24, Poroshenko assured that he agreed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the algorithm and timing of Savchenko’s release.

On April 29, it was reported that Savchenko had filled all the documents for extradition.

On May 23, when answering the question about the possible exchange of Savchenko for Russian special forces officers Yevgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov, the Ukrainian president said that the government "will do everything possible so that Nadia comes home as soon as possible."