Continuing violence involving pro-Russian militants in the eastern parts of the country poses a major threat to the campaign. But if held successfully, the election could become a turning point in the long-running crisis.
The Ukrainian government is sparing no effort to enable the election to take place. It has admitted, however, that it may not be possible to hold the poll in territories controlled by pro-Russian groups in the east. The latter have vowed to thwart the vote, and there have been reports of election officials being intimidated and electoral commission offices being taken over by pro-Russian activists in eastern Ukraine.
