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| Ukrainians head to the polls to elect a new president, except in the restive east | Ukrainians head to the polls to elect a new president, except in the restive east |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| DONETSK, Ukraine — Voting got underway Sunday in critical presidential elections that could determine Ukraine’s future as a sovereign nation, although many in the country’s violence-wracked east looked unlikely to vote. | DONETSK, Ukraine — Voting got underway Sunday in critical presidential elections that could determine Ukraine’s future as a sovereign nation, although many in the country’s violence-wracked east looked unlikely to vote. |
| It was not immediately clear how many polling stations were functioning in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, after polls opened in the former Soviet republic of 44 million people at 8:00 a.m. | It was not immediately clear how many polling stations were functioning in the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, after polls opened in the former Soviet republic of 44 million people at 8:00 a.m. |
| No polling stations were open in the city of Donetsk because of threats of violence, abductions and other acts taken by pro-Russian militants to disrupt the election, regional officials said. The Donetsk Regional Administration said 426 polling stations out of 2,430 were open in the troubled region, according to its Web site. | No polling stations were open in the city of Donetsk because of threats of violence, abductions and other acts taken by pro-Russian militants to disrupt the election, regional officials said. The Donetsk Regional Administration said 426 polling stations out of 2,430 were open in the troubled region, according to its Web site. |
| But in other parts of the beleaguered country, voting appeared brisk under warm, sunny skies. In the capital Kiev, turnout appeared to be heavy, with long lines at polling stations and local officials saying that turnout was higher than the previous presidential election. | But in other parts of the beleaguered country, voting appeared brisk under warm, sunny skies. In the capital Kiev, turnout appeared to be heavy, with long lines at polling stations and local officials saying that turnout was higher than the previous presidential election. |
| Around the troubled Donetsk region, however, problems with voting were widespread. People started trickling in to a polling station in Veliko Novoselovka, a small town about 60 miles west of Donetsk, but were turned away because of no ballots. | |
| The election official in charge of the polling station — who would only give his name as Oleksandr — said the polling station had two voting booths and four ballot boxes but no ballots, because the top election official for their district had been abducted Saturday and the ballots stolen. | The election official in charge of the polling station — who would only give his name as Oleksandr — said the polling station had two voting booths and four ballot boxes but no ballots, because the top election official for their district had been abducted Saturday and the ballots stolen. |
| One would-be voter angrily demanded to be allowed to cast his ballot. “I still live in Ukraine or do I live in another country and have to arm myself to fight those idiots?” the man shouted. An 87-year-old woman was told that she could go home and if the ballots arrived later, they would bring one to her home so she could vote. | One would-be voter angrily demanded to be allowed to cast his ballot. “I still live in Ukraine or do I live in another country and have to arm myself to fight those idiots?” the man shouted. An 87-year-old woman was told that she could go home and if the ballots arrived later, they would bring one to her home so she could vote. |
| A well-entrenched unit of Ukrainian troops operated one roadblock on the road from Donetsk, backed by armored personnel carriers and other soldiers, and then a second one outside town. | A well-entrenched unit of Ukrainian troops operated one roadblock on the road from Donetsk, backed by armored personnel carriers and other soldiers, and then a second one outside town. |
| “It’s my duty to come here,” said Raya Bogdanovna, 87, who walked to School No. 1 but headed home again after being told she couldn’t vote. | “It’s my duty to come here,” said Raya Bogdanovna, 87, who walked to School No. 1 but headed home again after being told she couldn’t vote. |
| “We very much wanted to vote. We want to end this disorder,” said another woman, a retired school teacher with tears in her eyes who would only give her first name, Tatyana. She referred to the separatists as Russian-sponsored “bandits.” “They’re shooting our children,” she said. “Russia doesn’t want Ukraine to succeed.” | “We very much wanted to vote. We want to end this disorder,” said another woman, a retired school teacher with tears in her eyes who would only give her first name, Tatyana. She referred to the separatists as Russian-sponsored “bandits.” “They’re shooting our children,” she said. “Russia doesn’t want Ukraine to succeed.” |
| But Tatyana was also critical of the government in Kiev, saying they should have done more to keep the situation under control. | But Tatyana was also critical of the government in Kiev, saying they should have done more to keep the situation under control. |
| Donetsk and Luhansk, with a combined population of just over 6.5 million, were declared sovereign republics by pro-Russian separatists after chaotic referendums there two weeks ago. Even if polling stations were open, it was unclear how many residents would risk voting after widespread threats of violence. | Donetsk and Luhansk, with a combined population of just over 6.5 million, were declared sovereign republics by pro-Russian separatists after chaotic referendums there two weeks ago. Even if polling stations were open, it was unclear how many residents would risk voting after widespread threats of violence. |
| Polls were due to close 12 hours after they opened. More than 1,000 international observers are in place, although they’ve largely pulled out of the Donetsk region. Exit polls are expected to indicate a result ahead of an official outcome on Monday. | Polls were due to close 12 hours after they opened. More than 1,000 international observers are in place, although they’ve largely pulled out of the Donetsk region. Exit polls are expected to indicate a result ahead of an official outcome on Monday. |
| Pro-Russian militants, who have seized government buildings, clashed with government troops and declared two new sovereign countries, are boycotting the elections, insisting the referendums are valid. The referendums, declared a farce by Kiev and illegal by the West, showed an overwhelming majority of residents of mostly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine wanted some form of self-rule. | Pro-Russian militants, who have seized government buildings, clashed with government troops and declared two new sovereign countries, are boycotting the elections, insisting the referendums are valid. The referendums, declared a farce by Kiev and illegal by the West, showed an overwhelming majority of residents of mostly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine wanted some form of self-rule. |
| Sunday’s vote, which comes three months after the ouster of the country’s pro-Russian leader, comes at a critical time for Ukraine. It is preceeded by weeks of violence in the country’s industrial east between government troops and pro-Russian separatists, who theWest believes are armed and financed by Russia. | Sunday’s vote, which comes three months after the ouster of the country’s pro-Russian leader, comes at a critical time for Ukraine. It is preceeded by weeks of violence in the country’s industrial east between government troops and pro-Russian separatists, who theWest believes are armed and financed by Russia. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated Saturday that Russia will respect the outcome of Ukraine’s election. “We are going to work with the authorities that are formed, based on the election,” he told reporters in St. Petersburg. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in March. The West then slapped economic sanctions on Moscow in retaliation. | |
| Billionaire candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko, who has vaulted to the top of Ukraine’s political scene on the hope he can unite a deeply divided electorate, is the favorite to win the presidential poll, although he may not have enough votes to avoid a run-off. But even in a runoff, his main challenger, Yulia Tymoshenko, lags behind him in most polls. | Billionaire candy tycoon Petro Poroshenko, who has vaulted to the top of Ukraine’s political scene on the hope he can unite a deeply divided electorate, is the favorite to win the presidential poll, although he may not have enough votes to avoid a run-off. But even in a runoff, his main challenger, Yulia Tymoshenko, lags behind him in most polls. |
| Poroshenko, 48, a former foreign and economics minister, is a savvy veteran of Ukraine’s political scene, adept at working with both pro-Russian and pro-Western leaders. Once an ally of Yanukovych, he was the first member of Ukraine’s powerful oligarchs to cast his lot with the pro-Western protesters who took to Kiev’s main square, the Maidan, in November to demand more political freedoms and that the country align itself with the European Union. | Poroshenko, 48, a former foreign and economics minister, is a savvy veteran of Ukraine’s political scene, adept at working with both pro-Russian and pro-Western leaders. Once an ally of Yanukovych, he was the first member of Ukraine’s powerful oligarchs to cast his lot with the pro-Western protesters who took to Kiev’s main square, the Maidan, in November to demand more political freedoms and that the country align itself with the European Union. |
| At an early stage of the protests, Poroshenko, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.6 billion, tried to play conciliator, using a bullhorn to negotiate with an angry crowd as he stood on a front-end loader. Later, he spoke from the occupied square’s main stage. But he was never a leader of the movement. | At an early stage of the protests, Poroshenko, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.6 billion, tried to play conciliator, using a bullhorn to negotiate with an angry crowd as he stood on a front-end loader. Later, he spoke from the occupied square’s main stage. But he was never a leader of the movement. |
| On Friday, he was already behaving as if he were the president-elect, meeting in Kiev with several European Union foreign ministers to discuss Ukraine’s economy before heading back to the campaign trail in his hulking black Mercedes. He said that he sought to unite Ukrainians and ethnic Russians, many of whom are distrustful of the government in Kiev, and that he welcomed talking to Russia’s leaders provided they recognize the elections. | On Friday, he was already behaving as if he were the president-elect, meeting in Kiev with several European Union foreign ministers to discuss Ukraine’s economy before heading back to the campaign trail in his hulking black Mercedes. He said that he sought to unite Ukrainians and ethnic Russians, many of whom are distrustful of the government in Kiev, and that he welcomed talking to Russia’s leaders provided they recognize the elections. |
| “Immediately after the recognition of the elections, we are ready for dialogue” with Russia, he told reporters after his meeting with the European diplomats. He said he planned to protect the rights of Russian-language speakers and was skeptical about NATO membership, two key Russian demands. | “Immediately after the recognition of the elections, we are ready for dialogue” with Russia, he told reporters after his meeting with the European diplomats. He said he planned to protect the rights of Russian-language speakers and was skeptical about NATO membership, two key Russian demands. |
| But, he said, if instability continues in eastern Ukraine, he may reevaluate his attitude toward NATO. | But, he said, if instability continues in eastern Ukraine, he may reevaluate his attitude toward NATO. |
| “Who knows,” he said. “Maybe we should make this decision.” | “Who knows,” he said. “Maybe we should make this decision.” |
| Election officials conceded Friday that just a small portion of voters in two violence-plagued eastern provinces would be able to vote, running the risk that the population there, already skeptical of the central government in Kiev, would feel even more disenfranchised. | Election officials conceded Friday that just a small portion of voters in two violence-plagued eastern provinces would be able to vote, running the risk that the population there, already skeptical of the central government in Kiev, would feel even more disenfranchised. |
| But Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared Friday to retreat further from previous threats not to recognize the elections, perhaps calculating that a business tycoon who has major economic interests in Russia may be a cooperative negotiating partner in the future. | But Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared Friday to retreat further from previous threats not to recognize the elections, perhaps calculating that a business tycoon who has major economic interests in Russia may be a cooperative negotiating partner in the future. |
| Still, Poroshenko will have to face critics from both flanks, not just Kiev skeptics in the east. Many anti-corruption Maidan activists fear that Poroshenko is a member of the old corruption-rife system of oligarchs they were trying to sweep away. | Still, Poroshenko will have to face critics from both flanks, not just Kiev skeptics in the east. Many anti-corruption Maidan activists fear that Poroshenko is a member of the old corruption-rife system of oligarchs they were trying to sweep away. |
| “The problem for Poroshenko is definitely that he is a strong businessman himself,” said Olexiy Haran, a professor of comparative politics at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. “He is not as powerful as other oligarchs. But he still has a lot of business interests. The problem would be to separate business from politics.” | “The problem for Poroshenko is definitely that he is a strong businessman himself,” said Olexiy Haran, a professor of comparative politics at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. “He is not as powerful as other oligarchs. But he still has a lot of business interests. The problem would be to separate business from politics.” |
| Witnesses said there was fresh violence Friday between pro- and anti-government militias in the village of Karlovka, about six miles beyond the city limits of Donetsk. Hours after the clashes, a restaurant damaged by heavy explosives was still smoldering, and shell casings littered the ground around a nearby gas station and an onion-domed church. | Witnesses said there was fresh violence Friday between pro- and anti-government militias in the village of Karlovka, about six miles beyond the city limits of Donetsk. Hours after the clashes, a restaurant damaged by heavy explosives was still smoldering, and shell casings littered the ground around a nearby gas station and an onion-domed church. |
| A pro-Russian separatist who took part in the fighting said four militants in his unit were killed when pro-Ukrainian fighters attacked a rebel checkpoint at a bridge. The rebel said at least 10 pro-Ukrainian fighters were also killed, a claim that could not be immediately verified. The violence came a day after fighting in the region killed at least 13 soldiers. | A pro-Russian separatist who took part in the fighting said four militants in his unit were killed when pro-Ukrainian fighters attacked a rebel checkpoint at a bridge. The rebel said at least 10 pro-Ukrainian fighters were also killed, a claim that could not be immediately verified. The violence came a day after fighting in the region killed at least 13 soldiers. |
| But the separatists who have seized government buildings around eastern Ukraine continued to come under pressure, from government security forces, pro-Kiev militias and residents who are increasingly furious. | But the separatists who have seized government buildings around eastern Ukraine continued to come under pressure, from government security forces, pro-Kiev militias and residents who are increasingly furious. |
| “It’s a pity for both sides, for their children and their mothers who are crying,” said Alla Nikolenko, 45, whose home narrowly missed a direct hit by a shell Friday when fighting between pro- and anti-Kiev militias broke out shortly after 5 a.m. “We just want peace.” | “It’s a pity for both sides, for their children and their mothers who are crying,” said Alla Nikolenko, 45, whose home narrowly missed a direct hit by a shell Friday when fighting between pro- and anti-Kiev militias broke out shortly after 5 a.m. “We just want peace.” |
| Fredrick Kunkle reported from Donetsk, Michael Birnbaum from Kiev and Daniela Deane from London. Abigail Hauslohner contributed to this report from Moscow. | Fredrick Kunkle reported from Donetsk, Michael Birnbaum from Kiev and Daniela Deane from London. Abigail Hauslohner contributed to this report from Moscow. |