Ukrainian pilot and Batkivschyna faction MP Nadia Savchenko, who is imprisoned in Russia, has announced a hunger strike after being denied medical assistance, her defense lawyer Mark Feygin said.

"Nadia has announced a hunger strike," he wrote on Twitter on Monday.

Later, he said that Savchenko went on a hunger strike because she was not allowed an examination by an otolaryngologist.

"Today, in Moscow City Court, Nadia, who participated [in the sitting] via video conferencing, announced a hunger strike, because she was denied a visit by an otolaryngologist," Feygin said.

At the same time, another defense lawyer representing the pilot, Ilya Novikov, said that his client went on a hunger strike on Saturday, December 13. "In pre-trial detention center No.6 she is not allowed to see otolaryngologist and has not been given medicine purchased by her lawyers," he explained.

According to Novikov, Savchenko has an inflammation of the ear, which started a week ago, and is getting worse. "She already can't hear with her right ear," Novikov said.

It was reported earlier that Savchenko, a 33-year-old pilot, was fighting with the Aidar volunteer battalion in eastern Ukraine when she was captured by militants in June near the town of Schastia, a suburb of Luhansk. It was stated on July 8 that she was being held at the Voronezh pre-trial detention facility in Russia.

On July 9, Russia indicted her for complicity in murder. Savchenko has rejected all charges. Ukraine is demanding her release.

Savchenko was elected as a Verkhovna Rada deputy representing the Batkivschyna Party at the end of October.