Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, who is held in custody in Russia under trumped up charges, has started taking food in quantities required to sustain life, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyinis said.

"Nadia continues being kept in custody at prison hospital No. 1 in Moscow and continues the hunger strike resumed on March 16 in protest against her illegal detention in Russia. At the same time, she started taking nutritional mixes and food in insignificant quantities required to sustain life. Her health condition is described by doctors as satisfactory," Perebyinis said at a briefing on Tuesday.

He renewed calls on Russia to release Savchenko immediately, and on the global community to increase pressure on Moscow.