[Watch] Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: From Comedian To National Hero

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By OB Bureau
Photo courtesy Twitter

Kyiv: Just a few years ago, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was a comedian and entertainer, playing the Ukrainian President in the popular television series “Servant of the People”.

Since the Russian invasion began, the 44-year-old Zelenskyy has become a national — and international — hero overnight, winning millions of admirers across the world: for his defiance and fearlessness, passionate and emotional speeches, and tweets, leading bravely as Ukraine fights its war alone.

Elected President in 2019, Zelenskyy has been winning hearts, becoming the face of his country’s resistance against the Russian attack.

Looking unshaven and not in his trademark suit, Zelenskyy has been posting videos, addressing Ukrainians and tweeting constantly, assuring people that he was not leaving the country and fighting alongside them.

He turned down an US offer to flee. “The fight is here. I need ammunition, not a ride,” he said.

In another video, he said, “I stay in the capital, I stay with my people. During the day, I held dozens of international talks, directly managed our country. And I will stay in the capital.”

“My family is also in Ukraine. My children are also in Ukraine. My family is not traitors. They are citizens of Ukraine. But I have no right to say where they are now.”

Zelensky said “the enemy marked me number 1 target” and his family as number 2 target.

On a conference call, he told European leaders that it “might be the last time you see me alive”.

The speech he made just after the Russian invasion began is being regarded as the best of his life. Fearless, he told the Russian troops: “If you attack, you will see our faces, not our backs!”

Zelenskyy is married to Ukrainian architect and screenwriter Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska and the couple have two children, Oleksandra and Kyrylo.

In 2019, Zelenskyy was in news after it was reported that then US President Donald Trump had pressured him to investigate alleged wrongdoings against Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

The Ukrainian head of state grew up in a Russian-speaking family and is Jewish. His grandfather, who was in the Red Army, lost three of his brothers in the Holocaust.

 

 

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