In a Russian courtroom Monday, the fate of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko hangs by a thread.
She is charged with directing mortar fire which killed two Russian journalists in June 2014 during the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Though the court has not issued a formal verdict, judge Leonid Stepanenko says that Savchenko did kill the two journalists.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) JUDGE, LEONID STEPANENKO, SAYING:
"That means she deliberately inflicted death on two people, in a way that bears menace to the public with a group of people by previous consent, motivated by hatred and enmity toward a social group."
Savchenko has denied wrongdoing and has vowed to fight whatever verdict is reached.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) DETAINED PILOT, NADEZHDA SAVCHENKO (AUDIO AS INCOMING), SAYING:
"I'm going to keep my lawyers and I ask them to continue to publicize my case publicly and politically."
Her lawyers expect a formal verdict later Monday or Tuesday.
Ukraine hails Savchenko as a national hero, though here in Russia, state TV has depicted the pilot as a dangerous Ukrainian nationalist with the blood of civilians on her hands.