Pro-Russian separatists prepare to hold their own election in eastern Ukraine on November 2nd.<br /> <br />The poll comes a week after Ukraine voted for a new parliament, and some residents in Donetsk are not quite sure what it will mean.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK RESIDENT, ELENA, SAYING:<br /> <br />"They promise us that things will get better after the election. Perhaps there is hope that Russia will help us a bit. But no one knows."<br /> <br />Alexander Zakharchenko, a leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk republic, who is expected to prevail in the vote, says a new era is on the horizon.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) REBEL LEADER AND MAIN CANDIDATE AT UPCOMING ELECTION, ALEXANDER ZAKHARCHENKO, SAYING:<br /> <br />"This election that will take place on November 2nd will be a crossover moment when our state will become legitimate. There is no point in pretending otherwise.'<br /> <br />The dispute over the rebel vote has intensified the geo-political tussle between Russia and the West over the future of
