A woman poses with her rifle in Donetsk

A woman fighting on the side of pro-Russian rebels poses with her rifle in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Spetember 17, 2014. Before fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine, Irina was a croupier in a casino who never dreamt of taking up arms. Now she is gambling with her life. Using the nom de guerre «Gaika», a cartoon character that translates as Gadget, she has joined an artillery unit in a pro-Russian separatist group fighting government forces. «When your home is being destroyed, everything that is dear to you, friends, work … It’s about character. Girls who go into combat are real Russian women,» she said in an interview, explaining why she joined up. It has proved a tough experience but she has no regrets. REUTERS/Marko Djurica