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This article focuses on the revolution in Ukraine and the controversy surrounding the Ukrainian presidential runoff vote in 2004. It was like old times--a Russian leader warning the West to stay out of his country's sphere of influence, an American president vowing that the will of the people must be heard. As the dispute over the Nov. 21 Ukrainian presidential runoff vote continued, and as opposition supporters took to the streets by the hundreds of thousands, George W. Bush promised that the United States would closely monitor any new balloting. But Vladimir Putin said hands off, even as he waded deep into the issue by rejecting the notion of a repeat runoff--an idea supported by opposition leader and presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko and European Union mediators. Putin said such a vote could produce another disputed result, prolonging the standoff between Yushchenko's movement and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, outgoing President Leonid Kuchma's handpicked candidate and the man openly supported by Putin. Tent City sprang up in the heart of downtown Kiev in the immediate aftermath of the country's profoundly flawed runoff presidential election on Nov. 21. INSETS: UKRAINE'S TIME OF TROUBLES;A COLOURFUL CAST.

This article focuses on the revolution in Ukraine and the efforts of young people in support of the uprising. In Kiev's wired world of the Orange Revolution, there's Ukraine's darling--Ruslana, the one-named singing sensation who won the 2004 Euro Idol competition. She's appeared onstage with opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, and dropped in on Tent City, the student squatters' camp in the middle of Khreshchatyk Street in the downtown core. Ruslana was what the Orange Revolution and the momentarily sagging Yushchenko forces needed. Radio Kiev set up a tent outside the mayor's office, in front of Tent City. What success this peaceful revolution has had so far is in measure due to people like Vasyl Boychuk, the 38-year-old "commandant" of a student camp hunkered down in a park next to the Rada.

The article discusses the January presidential election in Ukraine, the end of Viktor Yushchenko's term as president and the so-called Orange revolution, the prospective election of Russian-backed Viktor Yanukovich to the presidency in a February 7, 2010 runoff vote against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The article questions who will win, noting Yanukovich's tainted past and Tymoshenko's performance as prime minister during the economic crisis.

Presents an interview with Jim Jacuta, project director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies in Edmonton. His witnessing several incidents of voting abuse and fraud; His surprise at the popular turnout; His adamant belief that the election was corrupted; Concern that Russian troops were present; Hid doubts about a possible civil war.