Volodymyr Zelenskyy: TV Star to Wartime Leader
When former comedian and actor Volodymyr Zelenskyy became president of Ukraine in 2019, he made a promise to the nation in his inaugural speech:
"Throughout my entire life, I've tried to do everything so Ukrainians smiled. This was how I felt in my heart, and it was not only my job, it was my mission. In the next five years, I will do everything so that you, Ukrainians, don't cry."
Now, less than three years after his election, people have been looking back on these words as Zelenskyy has transformed from an entertainer to a wartime leader.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. And although US officials offered to transport Zelenskyy out of the country, the 44-year-old president refused. "I need ammunition, not a ride," he is reported to have said.
Zelenskyy has become a symbol of strength and resistance for many, and is being hailed as a hero by people around the world. But many doubted him at the start of his political career.
Before his election, Zelenskyy was famous for his role in the TV comedy Servant of the People. He played a teacher who gets elected president after a video of him speaking against corrupt politicians goes viral.
Zelenskyy was aware that he would be compared to the character he played, and even named his political party after the show. Like the teacher, the real Zelenskyy also promised to fight against corruption.
His entertainment career goes back to his days studying law at Kryvyi Rih Economic Institute. While there in 1997, he took part in a comedy competition called KVN with his group, Kvartal 95.
The group continued to appear on KVN until 2003, when Zelenskyy co-founded Studio Kvartal 95. It would go on to become one of Ukraine's most successful production companies, and Zelenskyy also acted in various movies.
He is now using videos not to entertain, but to rally his country. In one of the video updates he has made since the invasion began, he sent a message to his people that echoed his inaugural speech:
"I'm here. We won't lay down our arms. We will defend our state because our weapon is our truth. And the truth is this is our country, our land, our children. And we will defend all of that."
