Donetsk Votes in Separatist Election

Alexander Zakharchenko, separatist leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, casts a ballot during its leadership and local parliamentary elections at a polling station in Donetsk, Nov. 2, 2014.
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Pro-Russian separatists will vote to set up a breakaway regional leadership in eastern Ukraine on Sunday aiming to take their war-torn region closer to Russia and defying Kiev and the West as the big guns still boom across the territory.





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Ukraine Separatists Elect Leaders in Controversial Election

An electoral official registers a voter during the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leadership and local parliamentary elections at a polling station in Donetsk.

A woman leaves a voting booth during the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leadership and local parliamentary elections at a polling station in Donetsk.

A man casts a ballot during the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leadership and local parliamentary elections at a polling station in the coastal settlement of Sedovo, south from Donetsk.

A pro-Russian separatist casts a ballot during the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic leadership and local parliamentary elections at a polling station in the southern coastal town of Novoazovsk.

Members of a local electoral commission empty a ballot box at a polling station after voting day in Donetsk.

Members of a local electoral commission count ballots at a polling station after voting day in Donetsk.

Members of a local electoral commission carry a ballot box at a polling station after voting day in Donetsk.

People celebrate the end of voting day for the leadership and local parliamentary election of self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, in the center of Donetsk.

A pro-Russian separatist embraces a woman while celebrating the ending of voting day for the leadership and local parliamentary election of self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, in the center of Donetsk.