Ukrainian president Victor Yanukovich's party is on course to secure a parliamentary majority after an election, but will face an opposition boosted by resurgent nationalists and a liberal party led by boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko.
Victory for the ruling Party of the Regions in yesterday's vote will cement the leadership of Mr Yanukovich, who faces re-election in 2015 and whose rule has been marked by an accumulation of presidential powers and antagonism with the West over the imprisonment of his rival, opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
"It is clear the Party of the Regions has won ... These elections signal confidence in the President's policies," prime minister Mykola Azarov told reporters.
After about one third of votes had been counted, the Regions were ahead with 36.2 per cent of the votes in balloting conducted by party lists.
A senior Regions official said he expected it to obtain two thirds of the remaining vote in individual districts, enough to give the party a simple majority in the former Soviet republic's 450-seat assembly.
It has ruled until now as a coalition with the communists and other allies.
The biggest surprise came from the nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party which, according to partial results won about 7.8 per cent of the party-list voting. This means it will have significant representation in parliament for the first time.
The unexpectedly strong showing by Svoboda - which is based in the Ukrainian-speaking west, pursues a strong Ukrainian nationalist agenda and opposes attempts by the Regions to promote the Russian language over Ukrainian - boosted opposition ranks that have been weakened by the jailing of Ms Tymoshenko.
The other new opposition wild card in parliament will be held by Mr Klitschko's UDAR (Punch) party which was in fourth place behind the Regions, the communists and the united opposition which includes Ms Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna (Fatherland).
Many voters made clear they were frustrated with the performance of the established political parties over the past few years.
Corruption is a big concern in Ukraine and many Ukrainians face economic hardship. "We have seen some parties in power and others as well," said Tetyana (27) referring to Batkivshchyna and the Regions.
"We have seen the results." Even in Donetsk, Mr Yanukovich's main stronghold in the east of the country, many voters said they were disillusioned by the government's record.
"I voted for the Regions Party but simply because it is the lesser of the evils. I can't say I am a great fan of the Regions, but all the rest are worse," said 58-year-old Viktor Grigoryev, a head of section in the construction sector.
Reuters