Zelenskiy leads Ukraine presidential race ----------------------------- Television comic Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the frontrunner in Ukraine’s presidential election race, but opinion polls suggest that no candidate will get close to the 50 percent of votes needed to win in a first round ------------------------------ Volodymyr Zelenskiy Political novice best known for playing fictional president in hit TV series. Now bidding for role in real life Petro Poroshenko Pro-Western tycoon in power since 2014 has seen popularity plunge amid graft claims and economic woes Yulia Tymoshenko Former prime minister and key figure in Orange Revolution of 2004. Backs closer ties with EU and NATO Anatoliy Hrytsenko Former defence minister focusing on military affairs, such as bringing Ukraine’s army up to NATO standards ------------------------------ SHARE OF OPINION POLL* Servant of the People Party (Volodymyr Zelenskiy) 20.46% Petro Poroshenko Bloc “Solidarity” 13.25% All-Ukrainian Union “Fatherland” (Tymoshenko) 9.50% Opposition Platform – For Life (Yuriy Boyko) 6.88% Civil Position (Anatoliy Hrytsenko) 6.20% ------------------------------ Yuriy Boyko (self-nominated) Most popular Russia-friendly candidate. Former deputy prime minister split from Opposition Bloc in 2018 ------------------------------ *Kiev-based Centre for Social and Marketing Research (SOCIS) survey of 2,000 voters in all regions, except in annexed Crimea, from March 9-14. Margin of error ± 2.1 points ------------------------------ Sources: Associated Press, Bloomberg, Reuters Pictures: AP, Twitter © GRAPHIC NEWS