Ukraine Today released comments by Nadia Savchenko’s sister, Vira: "We understand that the court process will be completed on December 24. The sentence could be before or after the New Year. Anyway, after the verdict, Nadiya will go back on hunger strike. In the first ten days she will only drink water, and after that she will even stop drinking. She will only breathe. Nadiya knows that it works."

Savchenko's previous hunger strike of over more than 80 days left her weak and under constant need of surveillance. But in Ukraine and beyond, the 34-year-old is widely viewed as a national hero in the fight against Russian aggression.

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