4 fatalities for separatists after Luhansk assault

At least four separatists died and another eight have been wounded following a heavy assault of a border command center near Luhansk.

As hundreds of heavily armed rebels were attacking the command center, an Ukrainian military jet was deployed to aid the guards who were under fire.

However, the mission was a difficult one because the militants were using houses from a residential area as a shield and guards could not open fire upon them.

Acting President Oleksandre Turchinov told reporters that: 'In fact the border guards are on the territory which is temporarily controlled by terrorists. Under the most difficult conditions, they are defending the country’s borders.'

One of the dead rebels was recognized by a fellow fighter as a leader of the separatists.

Although seven border guards were reportedly injured, there were no fatalities registered among the Ukrainian government forces.