Russian conflict playing central role in Ukrainian elections

As Ukraine approaches its decisive run-off elections later this month, the nation's conflict with Russian-backed separatists is weighing heavily on the race.

President Petro Poroshenko, who placed second in the first-round vote, faces comedian turned politician Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a runoff scheduled for April 21, with the two pro-EU candidates leaving the field absent of a pro-Russian candidate.

Despite his anti-Kremlin stance, Zelenskiy has been more than willing to address crowds in Russian as well as Ukrainian, winning him support in the largely Russian-speaking east of the country.

This is a stark contrast to Poroshenko, who has used his time in power to champion policies aimed at the establishment of a linguistically, religiously and ideologically unified Ukrainian state that will be more resilient in the face of Russian influence

His attempts appear to be in vain as a February survey conducted by the Levada Centre in Moscow and the Kiev Institute of Sociology found that 77% of Ukrainians said they have a positive attitude toward Russians, while 82% of Russians felt similarly disposed toward Ukrainians.

Meanwhile, just 8% of Ukrainians surveyed think that the Russian language should be excluded from the education system and 54% do not approve of Poroshenko's decision to ban Russian media in Ukraine, though 69% view Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government as bad or very bad.

Increasing sympathy towards Russia appears to have seeped into Ukraine as confidence in the government has evaporated, with Poroshenko having been dogged by allegations of corruption that include theft from the military.

Consequently, many see his fierce anti-Russian approach as a means to gloss over his failings as a leader.

Conflict has been ongoing for five years since Russia annexed Crimea and separatists rose up in the eastern Donbass region of the country, leaving 13,000 dead and producing more recent flash points such as a November incident where Russia seized three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors in the Black Sea.

Three million Ukrainians live in Russia but the Ukrainian electoral commission has shut down voting at its five consulates across the border amid fears of interference from Moscow, meaning those wishing to vote may have to make the long trip back to their home country.