Conviction of Ukrainian pilot may lead to swap

DONETSK, Russia — A Russian court sentenced a Ukrainian pilot to 22 years in prison Tuesday after convicting her for complicity to murder in the deaths of two Russian journalists in Eastern Ukraine, opening a door to a possible prisoner swap.

Nadezhda Savchenko, 34, was serving in a Ukrainian volunteer battalion against Russia-backed rebels when she was captured by separatist rebels in July 2014. She later surfaced in Russia.

Prosecutors said Savchenko called in co-ordinates for the shelling that killed two journalists and several civilians near the Russian border in July 2014. She denied being in the area at the time and insisted she had been captured by the rebels a few hours before the mortar attack.

Speculation persists that Moscow might agree to exchange her for two Russians captured in eastern Ukraine and alleged to be active-duty soldiers despite Russia’s persistent denial that it has sent troops or equipment to bolster the rebels.