The Donetsk communist party congress had just come to a close and members were dispersing when a blast ripped through their headquarters in eastern Ukraine on October 29.

The powerful explosion burned the face and arm of Igor Khakimzyanov, who had hoped to run for head of this Russia-backed breakaway state in an unrecognised election here on Sunday but is instead in the hospital.

His aide also suffered burns and post-concussion syndrome, while bomb shrapnel and hundreds of pieces of glass flew into first secretary Irina Yakina.

The portrait of Lenin somehow emerged unscathed, but the electoral registration documents for the 12 parliamentary candidates chosen by the congress were destroyed in…