# Alexander Zakharchenko becomes head of the self-proclaimed DPR

Date: 2014

On 7 August 2014 [Alexander Zakharchenko](/people/alexander-zakharchenko) took over from Russian citizen Alexander Borodai as 'prime minister' of the self-proclaimed, Russian-backed Donetsk People's Republic during the war in Donbas. Borodai himself put Zakharchenko forward as his successor, and the two appeared together at the handover.

## People

- Alexander Zakharchenko: https://factrail.ai/people/alexander-zakharchenko

## Sources

- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/08/russian-resigns-ukrainian-head-donetsk-peoples-republic
- https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-separatist-leader-zakharchenko-reported-killed-in-donetsk-cafe-blast/29464119.html

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

Canonical: https://factrail.ai/facts/zakharchenko-heads-dpr-2014-08-07