Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Ukrainian voters are going to the polls in snap elections for a new parliament.
President Petro Poroshenko called the poll as he aims to cement a new direction for the country after the ousting of pro-Russian leaders earlier this year.
But the vote will be overshadowed by a continuing conflict with pro-Russian rebels in the east.
About 3m people in Donetsk and Luhansk regions will not vote. The separatists will hold their own polls next month.
Another 1.8 million people in Crimea, annexed by Russia in March, will not take part.
The vote also comes amid an energy crisis, with Russia cutting off gas supplies to Ukraine in June in a dispute over unpaid bills.
Ukraine’s economy is collapsing, with GDP forecast to fall between 7 and 10% this year.
Ukraine’s government hopes the elections will help stabilise the country, with pro-Russian parties considerably weakened by recent events.
Half of the 450 seats in parliament will be allocated proportionally according to a party list system, with parties needing to gain more than 5% to win seats.
Another 198 MPs will be elected from individual constituencies, with 27 from Crimea and the rebel-held areas remaining vacant.
BBC