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As Ukraine gears up for presidential elections on Sunday 17 January, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Russian has mounted major multimedia programming, covering opinions and expectations ahead of the poll, the election day itself – and looking at the elections in the context of Russian-Ukrainian relations.

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Russian coverage of the pre-election campaign and the elections – on radio on Pyatiy Etazh (The Fifth Floor), Vam Slovo (Over To You), Utro na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ (Morning With The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳), Vecher na ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ (Evening With The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳), and online on bbcrussian.com – includes interviews, in-depth analysis and audience forums, examining the issues facing the Ukrainian electorate and Ukraine's relations with its neighbour, Russia.

Head of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Russian, Sarah Gibson, says: "The relations between the two countries are at the top of the news agenda in both Russia and Ukraine, and these elections present a huge interest to regional and international Russian-speaking audiences.

"The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Russian multimedia team is inviting its audiences, on radio, online and on mobile phones, to talk about the possible outcome – and the change it may bring about in the relations between the two countries."

Highlights include:

A link-up between Moscow and Kiev, engaging the students of journalism at Kiev State University with their peers at Moscow State University in a dialogue about the elections and the relations between the two countries, on the flagship interactive programme, Vam Slovo, on Friday 15 January;

Discussions with Ukraine's leading journalists writing about media – Nataliya Ligacheva, Vladimir Kaluga and Ostap Krivdyk – on the subject of the pre-election campaign and media;

A broadcast from a small Ukrainian village, Shampan, talking to the residents about their expectations from politicians and campaigning in the provinces;

Video interviews on bbcrussian.com with celebrities, whose fame spans both countries and beyond, including the boxer, Vitaly Klichko, and the singers, Taisiya Povaliy and Ruslana.

The special programming across ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Russian multimedia content culminates on the elections day with up-to-the-minute reporting from Ukraine and commentary from key analysts and opinion-makers in Ukraine and Russia.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service Publicity