Ukrainian separatist receives 79% of vote; West condemns the election.

Aleksandr Zakharchenko (newsanna)

As expected, eastern Ukraine overwhelmingly voted to retain Aleksandr Zakharchenko as the Prime Minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic:

November 3, 2014

Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say the acting prime minister of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has won an election that Kyiv and the West have made clear they will not recognize.

Election officials said Monday that Alexander Zakharchenko received about 79 percent of Sunday’s vote as part of the elections for leadership and legislative bodies in areas the separatists control in Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

West condemns vote

The United Nations, the European Union and the United States have called the rebel vote illegal, saying it violates Ukraine’s constitution and the cease-fire agreement reached September 5 between separatists and Ukraine’s government.

The EU’s new foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said Sunday that the bloc would not recognize the vote, which she called “a new obstacle on the path towards peace in Ukraine.”

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called the election in the separatist regions “a farce that is being conducted under the threat of tanks and guns.”

Russia will respect results

Russia’s Foreign Ministry released a statement late Sunday saying it respected the separatist vote as an expression of the will of the inhabitants of southeastern Ukraine.

The ministry also said that in light of the election, “it is extremely important to take active steps to establish a sustainable dialogue” between Ukraine’s central government and the separatists in line with cease-fire agreement signed two months ago.

EU leaders have urged Russia to ignore those results.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said Monday that Berlin found it incomprehensible that “official Russian voices” should recognize an election held by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine.

“It is all the more incomprehensible that there are official Russian voices that are respecting or even recognising these so-called elections,” spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference.

The current developments in east Ukraine rule out any premature lifting of EU economic sanctions against Russia, he added. If the situation worsened, further sanctions may be necessary, Seibert said.

Troop movements

Earlier Sunday, the Ukrainian military said there was “intensive” movement of troops and weapons from Russia into separatist-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine where the voting was taking place.

News agencies reported seeing columns of unmarked military trucks, some with anti-aircraft guns, heading toward the government-held airport in rebel-held Donetsk, but it was not clear whether they were new or existing forces in the rebel-held region.

The election in eastern Ukraine comes a week after parliamentary elections were held throughout the remainder of Ukraine, with candidates favoring closer ties with other European countries winning a significant plurality of the seats. People living in the east did not vote in the October 26 balloting.

Western officials say the vote could further complicate efforts to end the crisis in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Moscow rebels want to join Russia. Even with the two-month-old cease-fire, there have been daily outbreaks of fighting in some parts of eastern Ukraine.

Economic relationship with east

After casting his vote Sunday, Zakharchenko said if Kyiv would recognize the pro-Russian separatist region, an economic relationship could be normalized.

“If they recognize us [Donetsk People’s Republic] and return our lost land without a fight, then we will restore normal economic ties [with Ukraine] and will live like equal economic partners,” he said. http://www.voanews.com/content/rebels-elect-leader-in-eastern-ukraine/2505759.html

An earlier report from Russia stated that Aleksandr Zakharchenko had received 81% of the vote. Either way, presuming that there was little or no voter fraud, a 79% vote is much more of an electoral mandate than Western leaders typically get.

The last time the people of Donetsk voted, the West also would not recognize their vote.

Here is one view of the recent history of the Donetsk movement:

The Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR or DNR) (Russian: Донецкая народная республика, Donétskaya naródnaya respúblika, Ukrainian: Донецька народна республіка, Donets’ka narodna respublika) is a self-proclaimed state in eastern Ukraine. It is a constituent of the self-proclaimed Federal State of Novorossiya (New Russia).

The entity shares a border with Ukraine, Russia and the Lugansk People’s Republic, declared on 7 April 2014 by a number of activists who at the time occupied the Regional Administration and the City Hall buildings in Donetsk. Occupation of government buildings then spread to other cities in the region.

The self-proclaimed state’s activities are headed by the Donetsk Republic organization, a group which has been banned in Ukraine since 2007, and on 16 May 2014, the Republic as a whole was classified as a terrorist organization by the state.The Donetsk People’s Republic has been recognized only by the Republic of South Ossetia, on 27 June 2014. …

On 11 May, status referendums were held in Donetsk and Lugansk, where separatist leaders declared that a vast majority of participants voted in support of the establishment of the People’s Republics. On 24 May, the two separatist republics signed an agreement confirming their merger into a confederation called the Federal State of Novorossiya. …

According to Lucian Kim of Slate, ” … the Maidan protest, characterized by the Kremlin as a Western-sponsored armed coup, is being crudely imitated in towns across the Donetsk region. “If the guys on the Maidan could revolt, why can’t we?” has been the pro-Russian supporters’ motto … ” …

DPR authorities are intended in creating a multi-currency zone in which both the rouble (Russia’s currency unit) and the hryvnia (Ukraine’s currency unit) can be used. (Donetsk People’s Republic, Wikipedia, viewed 11/03/14)

It appears that the DPR wants to basically be independent, wants Kiev-related troops to go away, wants to make its own economic deals, and probably will want to either officially join Russia or at least join its upcoming Eurasian Union.

(As I have mentioned before, biblically, because of prophecies involving the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11-32), some of which are in Ukraine, and those in the “north and east” in Daniel 11:44, it would seem that Russia would be closer to at least parts of Ukraine (like some of the eastern portions of it) in the end than many realize. There is also a YouTube video available related to this titled Ukraine in Prophecy?)

The situation in the eastern portion of Ukraine remains volatile. Kiev does not like what is happening in the east and many in the east now wish to be distant from Kiev.

Russia wants Ukraine and will take what it feels it can. An election gives the Russians something they can use to claim additional territory.

The West, however, is not pleased and will likely consider additional sanctions.

The sanctions have helped lead to declines in output in Russia, but Vladimir Putin still remains popular as Voice of America reports:

Russia’s economy was struggling even before it was hit with western sanctions for annexing Crimea from Ukraine. Despite the downward trend, President Vladimir Putin’s popularity has reached an all-time high on a wave of nationalistic fervor. http://www.voanews.com/media/video/putins-popularity-rooted-in-nationalism/2504874.html

While many in the West believe that the sanctions are hurting Russia, Vladimir Putin seems to believe that gaining more territory is in his countries best long-term interest.

I believe that Vladimir Putin is trying to figure out how to capitalize on the election result in eastern Ukraine as well as hope that the election in Moldova will show that many there also want more distant ties to the West. However, like Ukraine, many in Moldova want closer ties to the European Union.

Neither Russia nor the European Union are the answer for what ails Ukraine or Moldova. Those there need repentance and the Kingdom of God. But that is not the direction that most will choose in this age.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian p
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
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Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fufilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
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European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
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World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
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Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.