Ukraine Exit Polls: Petro Poroshenko Wins First Round at 55.99%

The polls closed in Ukraine, and “Chocolate King” Petro Poroshenko is on top of the exit polls with 56% of the votes.

Another exit poll has very similar result. RT @Ukroblogger: Exit poll: #Poroshenko 55.9% #Tymoshenko 12.9% Lyashko 8% pic.twitter.com/caICk3mwu4

— Simon Kruse (@crusoes) May 25, 2014

.@KyivPost calls victory for Poroshenko in #UkraineVotes pic.twitter.com/uUrlYIOV4M

— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) May 25, 2014

If he wins with over 50% of the votes there will not a be a second round. The turnout in Kyiv was the largest in Ukraine’s history, but pro-Russians in east Ukraine forced residents not to vote. Polling stations were closed and pro-Russians turned ballot boxes into trash cans.

Ballot boxes turned into trash bins by separatists in #Donetsk pic.twitter.com/PCeF1ezzxS

— Paul Gypteau (@paulgypteau) May 25, 2014

Ex-Prime Minister and ex-political prisoner Yulia Tymoshenko received less than 13% of the vote. Oleh Lyashko, who took responsibility for the murder of a pro-Russian in Torez on May 23, is at 8%. Right Sector candidate Dmitry Yarosh received only 1% of the vote.