(24 May 2014) Five pro-Russia separatists killed in a battle with Ukrainian security forces were buried on Saturday in the village of Stakhanov in eastern Ukraine.
The clashes near the city of Luhansk were one of several such gun battles between the two sides.
In Kiev, the Defence Ministry said 20 insurgents were killed in an attack on a convoy of government troops on Thursday by about 500 rebels, the largest insurgent assault yet reported.
Hundreds of people, including many pro-Russian separatists, came to the Orthodox church in Stakhanov to pay their respects to the dead on Saturday.
"War is horrific. We don't want it but we have to face it, " said Stakhanov resident Irinia Dimitrieva.
"We want to work and live an honest life. We don't know what to do," Dimitrieva added.
Pro-Russian separatists have prevented at least half of the election districts in the embattled east of the country preparing for Sunday's presidential election, according to a Ukrainian official.
The pro-Russia separatists have controlled parts of eastern Ukraine for weeks.
Following their declaration of independence earlier this month, they pledged to derail the vote, which they regard as an election in "a neighbouring country."
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