But Gubarev emerged from obscurity soon after the toppling of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. At a rally the next month he was chosen as the people's governor in Donetsk and has been driving the occupation of regional administrative buildings, along with hundreds of pro-Russian activists. He was arrested on charges of separatism and seizure of public buildings, and was released from custody on 7 May, in exchange for three Ukrainian security service officers held by pro-Russian groups.