Investigators previously drew no conclusion about what happened aboard the flight, but did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft had been deliberately taken off course.

Russia says it cannot accept the results of the investigation since it took no part in the process.

Russia has denied any involvement and dismissed last year's court verdict as 'scandalous' and politically motivated.

But there is no realistic prospect of prosecuting him or others, investigators say.

Investigators could identify either the crew that manned the missile system, or higher-up Russian military or political officials who approved its transfer in and out of Ukraine.

The findings are expected to deal with their research into who actually fired the missile that shot down the plane over eastern Ukraine in 2014, and who originally supplied the Russian-made projectile.

Oleg Pulatov was found not guilty by a Dutch court on Nov 17 while Russians Igor Girkin and Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko were convicted and sentenced to life in absentia.

Moscow denies any involvement or responsibility for MH17's downing and in 2014 it also denied any presence in Ukraine.

Russians Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko, who have refused to attend the trial, face a life sentence if convicted on charges of murder and causing an aircraft to crash.

With flight delays and cancellations a common feature in countries throughout the world, calls have arisen for changes such as the mandatory compensation of passengers.

Defence lawyers said they will discuss 'alternative scenarios' about how MH17 may have been brought down.

The court has scheduled three weeks to hear the relatives speak and will also review around a hundred written statements provided by other family members.