A comedian, a sitting president and a former political prisoner. Those are Ukraine's leading contenders for the country's top post. Analysts say the outcome of Sunday's vote will likely reflect a desire for political change and an end to five years of conflict with Russia. CGTN's Stephanie Freid in Kiev has the latest.

KONSTANTIN BATOZSKY POLITICAL ANALYST "The main intention of the vote is to protest. The message from people to government is that we don't like any of you. We want new faces and that's why we will vote for a completely black horse than we will support you."

The black horse, in Ukraine's case, is comedian and actor Vlodomyr Zelensky who plays an anti-corruption president in a hugely popular television series and is leading in the polls.

KONSTANTIN BATOZSKY POLITICAL ANALYST "People don't support Zelensky; they just want to show their negative attitude to Poroshenko."

Petro Poroshenko is Ukraine's sitting president. His numbers lag behind Zelensky's, mostly for not ending the years-long Ukraine-Russia war, reclaiming Crimea from Russia, selling off his chocolate enterprise or battling corruption. Opposition leader Yulia Timoshenko, also in the top running, is a former Prime Minister who served prison time for alleged corruption. Timoshenko proposes negotiations with Russia and analysts warn she could mobilize Ukrainians onto the streets if she doesn't win.

STEPHANIE FREID KIEV "Thirty-nine candidates are running for president. Among them, a gimmick contender who is running an eligible bachelor campaign."

Attorney Igor Shevchenko is unapologetic about using his Facebook page and campaign platform to advertise for a wife.

IGOR SHEVCHENKO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE "This really helped me to draw attention from the media for my candidacy. So it really worked perfectly."

He didn't find a life partner, but his legal firm is getting more business these days.

IGOR SHEVCHENKO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE "People really recognize me on the streets. So I achieved the goal in a very cheap and very effective way."

Election officials are predicting a record 80% voter turnout with results so close that a runoff vote will be scheduled for late April. Stephanie Freid, CGTN, Kiev, Ukraine.