Ms. Savchenko, who lawyers say was captured by the separatists and smuggled across the border into Russia, also is charged with entering Russia illegally.

Charges of attempted murder in relation to six Ukrainian citizens were also added to the case.

Prosecutors told the court on Tuesday that Ms. Savchenko intentionally targeted the journalists and other civilians, while the defense insisted the journalists were killed during an attack on separatist fighters, Russian news agencies reported.

“I didn’t see journalists,” Tass quoted Ms. Savchenko as saying. “I have never in my life shot at unarmed people. I am a soldier, not a murderer.”

Ms. Savchenko, who spent 83 days on a hunger strike to protest her detention, has become a hero figure for Ukrainians fighting the separatists and has won a seat in Parliament. Ukrainian officials have campaigned for her release and have been backed by the United States and the European Union.