Ukraine ruling party faces energised opposition

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich takes a moment at the tomb of an unknown soldier before heading to the polls.

The president's ruling pro-business Party of the Regions is widely expected to win parliamentary elections.

Heavyweight boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko voted Sunday with his liberal UDAR party poised to take second place.

A late surge in polls could give his party an important opposition role, promising to fight authoritarianism and corruption.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UKRAINIAN BOXING CHAMPION VITALY KLITSCHKO, SAYING:

"We hope very much that these elections will be fair, but unfortunately there are cases telling that a vast number of voters are bribed. If anyone of you is given money to vote, don't be shy, take that money. They are just giving back the money they have stolen from you before."

He vowed to turn Ukraine into a "truly European country."

The imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on abuse of office charges has isolated the country from the United States and the European Union.

The poll is seen as a test of Ukraine's commitment to democracy with international monitors watching closely.