Exit polls - Yanukovych winner in Ukraine elections

Former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was the winner in Ukraine's Saturday Presidential election, according to exit polls, dpa reported.

The pro-Russia politician is likely to capture 31.5 per cent of the popular vote, according to a Channel 5/Razumkov Research Centre survey.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a populist politician running on an anti-corruption ticket, will receive 27.2 per cent of the popular vote, pollsters said.

A total six exit polls were conducted in the former Soviet republic, some giving slightly better results to either candidate.

The two will face each other in a election law mandated February run-off, if official results make them the top two finishers, and neither receives 50 per cent of actual ballots cast.