Pro-Russian separatist takes office in eastern Ukraine

Pro-Russian separatist takes office in eastern Ukraine
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ukrainian leaders have denounced his election as a sham, but Alexander Zakharchenko has been sworn in to lead the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. Zakharchenko, who pledged to "honestly serve the interests" of the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine, won the election on Sunday with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Western countries called the vote illegitimate and said they would not recognize the results. You can read more at Reuters.

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Laura Colarusso is a freelance journalist based in Boston. She has previously written for Newsweek, The Boston Globe, the Washington Monthly and The Daily Beast.