Ukraine: Polls close, counting begins in local elections

Ukrainians voted Sunday in local elections that are considered a test for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a former comedian who took office last year vowing to bring peace, uproot endemic corruption and shore up a worsening economy.

The turnout was approximately 37 percent according to the chairman of the Ukrainian Central Election Commission Oleh Didenko.

It decreased compared to the 2015 local elections when the turnout was 46.6 percent, Didenko said.

The final results of the voting will be announced on November 6.

The parties of former President Petro Poroshenko and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are expected to win most of the mayoral and council seats in the western part of the country.