The four suspects on trial are Russian nationals Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov, and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko, accused of launching the BUK missile that hit the plane over war-torn eastern Ukraine.
Tensions are expected to further increase as a Dutch safety board concludes that the MH17 aircraft was shot down in pro-Russian territory.
An international inquiry has concluded that Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian-made missile, a Dutch paper reported.
Truth no closer for families of the 298 people killed as pro-Russia separatists, Moscow and Ukrainian forces all deny involvement.
Tony Abbott has promised to ‘shirtfront’ Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit about the MH17 plane crash, in which 38 Australians died.
A campaign aimed at reviving Malaysia Airlines after deadly plane crashes has been changed after criticism over its ill-conceived name.