Editor’s Note: Ukrainians headed to polling stations on July 21 to elect their new parliament. The Kyiv Post asked voters at several polling stations in central Kyiv whom they voted for and how they made their mind in a crowded pool of parties and candidates.
Olga Mordas, 32, accountant at a construction company
I voted for Servant of the People. We already elected (Volodymyr) Zelensky as president so we have to support his team. I believe changes for the better in the country are possible with this team. They are young, ambitious people, and they are not politicians. You know we are so used to listening to the same overused speeches. In a single-member district, I voted for (Oleksandr) Yurchenko, a candidate with Servant of the People.
Arnold Pak, 80, pensioner
I voted for No. 6, the party of (Yuriy) Boyko, (Vadym) Rabinovych, and… what was his name? (Viktor) Medvedchuk, right. They have a plan for bringing peace (to the Donbas). Today, we have two parts of the country – western and eastern – that can’t be changed. That’s why we have to co-exist. Federalization is a good option.
Maryna Ostrovska, 69, pensioner
I voted for Servant of the People. I believe Zelensky and hope that he will make it. We have to continue the change of power.
Oleksiy Sipikin, 27, freelance translator
I voted for European Solidarity. Actually, I voted for (Petro) Poroshenko in the presidential election too. I like the reforms he did in those conditions that he was put in, during the war. The most important one, in my opinion, was the visa-free regime (with the European Union). Moreover, I have many friends who are fighting on the frontline. I trust their judgement. And they say Poroshenko helped the army a lot. To be honest, I don’t even know other candidates on the party list. I also voted for his party’s nominee in the single-member district.
Maria Turenko, 30, architect and landscape designer
I voted for Voice because I like their candidates—professionals who were not involved in any corruption scandals. I am from Cherkasy, and I had to change my voting address to Kyiv, so that’s why I didn’t vote in single-member district. But if I could, I would vote for this IT guy running with the Voice party in my district, No. 194. He has built a successful business in Cherkasy. (Viktor Yevpak is a founder of the eKreative IT company – KP)
Valeriy Sabko, 67, head of a medical laboratory
I voted for Servant of the People, for our young and active President Zelensky. And in the single-member district I also voted for a candidate from his party. No, I didn’t know the candidate. I voted for the party he’s with.
Oleh Panchuk, 51, bank employee
I voted for (Evheniy) Murayev, from Opposition Bloc. I like him. He says smart things not like everyone else. Yes, of course, I’ve read his election program. He promises to stop the war in the Donbas. In the single-member district I voted for (Oleksandr) Gusev, also a candidate with Opposition Bloc. (In fact, Gusev was nominated by the Opposition Platform-For Life — KP)
