Photos: Voters in Eastern Ukraine Defy Separatists and Head to Polls

 By 
Amanda Wills
 on 
Photos: Voters in Eastern Ukraine Defy Separatists and Head to Polls
Credit: Evgeny Feldman, Mashable

DONETSK, Ukraine -- Ukrainians headed to the polls on Sunday in record numbers -- 25% of eligible voters -- to elect their next president.

However, pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine kept a large number of polling centers from opening, and some citizens are staying home out of fear. Donetsk, which had 2.7 million voters in the 2010 presidential election, had just 5.48% turnout as of 11 a.m. local time. Meanwhile, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk turned out in droves for a rally to protest the election.

Here are the latest photos from Ukraine's embattled eastern region on this election Sunday.

[nggallery id=16683 layout="list"]

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