Election under threat in eastern Ukraine

By Nataliya Vasilyeva

Published May 24, 2014 4:11pm ET

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Election under threat in eastern Ukraine — Pro-Russian armed militants guard a checkpoint blocking the major highway which links Kharkiv, outside Slovyansk, Ukraine, Saturday, May 24, 2014. Ukrainians vote Sunday in an early presidential election that could be a crucial step toward resolving the country's crisis, but separatists in the east are threatening to block the vote. The election, which comes six months after the outbreak of protests that led to the president's ouster and a deepening chasm between pro-Europe and pro-Russia Ukrainians, aims to unify the fiercely divided country or at least discourage further polarization.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) | Alexander Zemlianichenko

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Pro-Russian insurgents are likely to prevent voting Sunday in half or more of the election districts in the embattled east, Ukrainian officials say.

Deputy Interior Minister Serhiy Yarovyi said on Saturday that police are ready to ensure order and security at polling stations in just nine of the 34 districts in the east.

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