LIVE UPDATES: Ukraine Holds Presidential Election

KIEV (Sputnik) – Polling places opened on Sunday in Ukraine marking the start of the first round of the presidential election.

Ukrainian citizens are able to cast ballots from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time (05:00 – 17:00 GMT).

A total of 39 candidates are running for president this year, the largest number in the history of Ukrainian presidential elections. Popular Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy is leading the presidential race with over 30 percent of Ukrainian voters. Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko is supported by 17 percent of "decided" voters, while Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and the current head of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, can count on 12.5 percent of the vote.

READ MORE: Experience vs Comedy Intrigue: Ukrainians to Elect New President on Sunday

For the first time in its history Ukraine has denied entrance to Russian observers. Moscow noted that Kiev’s move puts in question the legitimacy of the election process. Moreover, 7-10 million Ukrainian citizens will not be able to cast ballots over Kiev’s refusal to open polling stations in Russia and in the territories of the self-proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

The Central Election Commission must announce results of the vote before April 11. If no candidate manages to get over 50 percent of the vote, a second round of elections will be held on April 21.