“I am here and I am going to defend the State,” Volodymyr Zelenskiy assured in a video recorded by himself, denying the versions that claimed that he had fled before the advances of the Russian militancy.
Not only did he not flee, but the Ukrainian president became a key figure in the conflict. Who is Volodymyr Zelenskiy?
In Zelenskiy’s case, reality was stranger than fiction. Passionate about acting, the now head of state played a history teacher who became president of his country in the comedy “Servidor del pueblo”. The television program was his rise to fame and a prediction of what would happen in 2019 when he was indeed elected president of Ukraine. In addition, he co-founded a renowned production company in his country, Kvartal 95.
That same fame led him to the presidency. The political party Servant of the People was created in March 2018 by people close to its production company. After the electoral contest, he obtained 73% of the votes against the billionaire and acting president, Petro Poroshenko. Zelenskiy took over as president on May 20, 2019.
Cleaning up politics and bringing peace to the east of the continent were his great banners during the election. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s definition of invading Ukraine put him in check.
With dark circles under his eyes, often wearing sportswear and speaking in his own language, he expelled the Russians to the shouts of Ukraine, questioned the international community for leaving them alone and called on Ukrainians to take to the streets to defend their country.
“I call to immediately stop Putin, the war against Ukraine and the world. Let’s put together an anti-Putin coalition,” he said in another of his statements addressing the referents of the other countries.
At 44 years old, Zelenskiy leads a nation of 44 million people in the midst of an armed conflict without losing his resolve. Day after day, the Ukrainian president he doubled down on Putin and his rebellion positioned him as a superhero in the eyes of the world.
“I need ammunition, not a trip,” he said according to US intelligence sources when they offered him refuge. In the face of Russia’s advance and despite the fact that he is sure of being a target for the Russian government, he continues to fight to defend his country.
In the same vein, he recruited Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 and in a video published by the Presidency website he asked them: “We cannot lose the capital. He speaks to our defenders, men and women on all fronts: tonight, the enemy is going to use all of his might to break through our defenses in the most vile, harsh, and inhuman way. Tonight, they are going to try an attack.”. In addition, he decreed that they cannot leave the country, so they will have to go to integrate the troops distinguished by sunflowers – national flower of Ukraine and symbol of peace -.
His origins
Located 400 kilometers south of Kiev, Kryvyi Rih has yet to bear the brunt of the war. Zelenskiy’s hometown betrays his humble roots.
Volodymyr was born there on January 25, 1978. His father, Oleksandr, was a professor of computer science, and in recent years he served as chair of the Department of Computer Science and Applied Software. Meanwhile, his mother worked as an engineer. From a Jewish family, some of her ancestors were victims of the Holocaust.
Before knowing his passion for acting, the current Ukrainian president graduated as a doctor of law from the Krivoy Rog Institute of Economics, but never practiced as such.
In September 2003 Zelenskiy married his former schoolmate, Olena Kiyashko. Together with her she had two children, Kirilo and Olekasandra, who follows in her footsteps in the visual arts.
