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Significance
The post became vacant after DNR head Alexander Zakharchenko was killed by a bomb on August 31. In Russia and the DNR, blame was swiftly placed on the Ukrainian government. The assassination could just as easily have resulted from local rivalries or tensions between Zakharchenko and Moscow.
Impacts
Although a DNR vote in November seems inevitable, Moscow might seek a deferment beyond Ukraine's March 2019 presidential election.
Moscow will seek greater transparency and control in how its funds are spent in DNR.
An upsurge in fighting with Ukrainian forces appears unlikely as a direct consequence of internal turmoil.
Keywords:
Ukraine,
RUCIS,
Russia,
CIS,
Germany,
international relations,
politics,
election,
government,
security,
assassination,
rebellion,
civil war,
foreign policy,
guerrillas,
military,
regional,
talks,
terrorism
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2018
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