Heavy losses for Ukrainian military

The Ukrainian army counted its biggest losses so far after 17 soldiers were killed and another 36 wounded in a raid launched by pro-Russian separatists on Thrusday morning.

Heavily armed rebels showed off weapons they took from the military during the attack in the Volnovakha region, in eastern Ukraine.

Locals mobilized themselves and helped transport the wounded from the battle ground to sanitary checkpoints: 'I helped as much as I could. From the very beginning – 5 a.m. – I picked up and dropped off the injured, gave first aid, and helped in whichever way I could. My daughter was the one who called me and said that the war has started. So I quickly came here to help,' said local man, Viktor.

With over a month passing without the government taking back control of its own country, the attacks seem to be increasing in violence, especially with the forthcoming presidential election due on Sunday.