Zakharchenko Oleksandr Volodymyrovych

"Head of the DPR" — a puppet from Moscow

Until 2014 — an ordinary Donetsk entrepreneur, managing a small business. During the capture of Donetsk in 2014, he joined pro-Russian armed groups, quickly rising to their leadership thanks to support from Moscow.

In August 2014, appointed "Head of the DPR." On August 11, 2014, he announced the readiness of the "DPR units" for offensive actions — the next day, units of the regular Russian army crossed the border. He effectively voiced decisions made in Moscow. He was under sanctions by the USA, EU, Canada, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. In Ukraine, he is a subject of criminal proceedings under the article on "Creating a terrorist organization."

Vodka for "their own" and 40 deaths

On New Year's Eve 2018, fighters and Russian mercenaries were mass poisoned — by alcohol from a company controlled by Zakharchenko's civil wife Gladkova. According to various reports, about 40 people died.

Liquidation in his own café

On August 31, 2018, he died as a result of an explosion in the "Separ" café in Donetsk. Denis Pushilin became the new leader of the DPR.