The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council confirms that 17 Ukrainian servicemen were taken to Russian hospitals after being wounded in action near the Ukrainian-Russian border.

"Seventeen Ukrainian servicemen who sustained injuries of varying degrees under intense fire from terrorists in the Ukrainian border area and not far from the communities of Kuibyshevo and Gukovo were transported to Russian territory to be provided with medical aid. This saved our servicemen's lives," National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a news conference on Thursday.

One National Guard member died from wounds on Thursday morning, he said.

"Ukraine is doing all it can to return our troops to Ukraine," Lysenko said.