Comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been given an overwhelming mandate to implement major change in Ukraine after securing more than 70% of the vote in the presidential election.

With nearly every ballot counted, Mr Zelenskiy appears to have comprehensively defeated incumbent Petro Poroshenko, claiming 73% compared to his 24%.

Mr Poroshenko had already conceded defeat to the first-time candidate on Sunday and said he would leave office next month, but added: "I'm leaving office, but I want to make it clear that I'm not leaving politics."

Image: Mr Poroshenko says he will leave office next month

Mr Zelenskiy, 41, who plays a teacher-turned-president in a popular TV series, is set to take over the leadership of a country on the frontline of the West's standoff with Russia following its annexation of Crimea.

"We did it together," he said after an exit poll was released, thanking his wife, parents and campaign team.


"Thanks to all the Ukrainian citizens who voted for me, and to all who didn't: I promise I won't mess up."

Mr Zelenskiy has pledged to end the war in the eastern Donbass region and to root out corruption amid widespread fury over soaring prices and falling living standards.

Comedian actor favourite to take power in Ukraine

Speaking after casting his vote, Mr Poroshenko had said: "It's important to be guided by reason, not laughs.

"It could be funny first, but pain may come later."

Mr Zelenskiy, who comes from Ukraine's mostly Russian-speaking east, got twice as many votes as Mr Poroshenko in the first round of voting three weeks ago.

He appears to have won the most votes in both the west and the east, a rarity in post-Soviet Ukraine.

Speaking after voting in the Ukrainian capital, Mr Zelenskiy had said: "While I am not yet president, I can speak as a citizen of Ukraine: to all the countries of the former Soviet Union, look at us. Everything is possible."

The leaders of the US, the EU, Germany and France have phoned Mr Zelenskiy to give their congratulations, but his victory has yet to be acknowledged by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

His spokesman said it was too soon to recognise Mr Zelenskiy as president or talk about Russia-Ukraine cooperation because the election results were not yet official.

But Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has welcomed the result, posting on Facebook to say "there is a chance to improve the relations with our country after all".

Image: Exit polls say Volodymyr Zelenskiy has won a landslide

Mr Zelenskiy was criticised for a vague campaign and for having never held public office, but voters appear to have cast aside those concerns in favour of a radical shake-up of Ukraine's political leadership.

Corruption continued on a massive scale during Mr Poroshenko's five years in office and a war with Russia-backed separatist rebels in the eastern part of the country has killed more than 13,000 people.

Lyudmila Potrebko, a 22-year-old who voted for Mr Zelenskiy, said: "I have grown up under the old politicians and only have seen empty promises, lies and corruption.

"It is time to change that."

Image: Zelenskiy shot to fame in a TV series

Mr Zelenskiy shot to fame for his comic portrayal in a television series of a teacher who becomes president after a video of him denouncing corruption goes viral.

Mr Poroshenko was a billionaire confectionery magnate and former foreign minister before coming to power in 2014 after massive street protests drove his Russia-friendly predecessor to flee the country.

Although he brought in a raft of reforms, critics said he had not done enough to tackle the country's corruption.

Millions of people living in the rebel-controlled east and in Russia-annexed Crimea were not able to vote.