Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
© EPA-EFE/JOHANNA GERON/POOL
Rumours of war had permeated the minds of Ukrainians over the last few years. No one ever thought the day would come when this war would actually happen. It has. The current situation the Ukrainians are faced with is their worst nightmare come true; and the light at the end of the tunnel looks bleak. However, there is light, and to reach it, the Ukrainians are depending on their president, former actor and comedian Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Embodying his country’s president in the very popular Ukrainian TV series ‘Servant of the people’, which aired from 2015-2019, Zelenskyy had embraced and dramatically interpreted his role as president, albeit, only employing make believe as an actor seen through the lens of the creator - which also turned out to be him. Zelenskyy has now gone ahead to rewrite history; as a seer, a visionary, a ‘superman’ type of national hero and a beacon of hope to over 43 million Ukrainians who look to him for a way; the way out of the ongoing war with their neighbour, Russia, who now threatens them with extinction.
Zelenskyy
Born Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy on January 25th 1978 to Jewish parents in Kryvi Rih - the largest city in Central Ukraine and the 7th most populous city in the country; Zelenskyy would never have foreseen his current role in the scheme of things that will determine if his beloved country stands or falls.
Growing up in a family of intellectuals, Zelenskyy’s dad, a professor and computer scientist, had prevented young Zelenskyy from going to study in Israel even after he passed the Test of English as Foreign language(TOEFL) at the age of sixteen (16). He wasn’t deterred, he later went ahead to graduate with a law degree from the Kryvyi Rih Institute of Economics which now forms a part of Kryvyi Rih National University. Abandoning the law degree for an entertainment career in comedy was an easy one to take according to Zelenskyy who travelled and toured around post-soviet countries and cities including Moscow where most of his team members spent a lot of time.
Married to former school mate Olena Kiyashko in September 2003, after dating for eight (8) years, Zelenskyy’s union is blessed with two children; a daughter Oleksandra, who was born in July 2004 and a son, Kyrylo, born in January 2013. Zelenskyy is a multi-linguist who grew up speaking Russian, Ukrainian and English fluently although he honed his skills working mostly in Russian language productions and only playing his first Ukrainian language role in 2018. His production company Kvartal 95 produced the nationally acclaimed TV series ‘Servant of the people’ which in no small means helped to pave the way for his victory in the 2019 presidential election.
Politick-ing & Socially Speak-ing
Before his declaration to run for president, Zelenskyy, a controversial figure in the political and social scene who was very vocal about his opinions, infusing a bit of comedy in many of his widely acclaimed political statements. He was a government critic and a political outsider who opposed Ukraine’s targeting of the Russian language in Ukraine. In August 2014, he also criticized the intention of the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture to ban Russian artists and other Russian works of culture from Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s Kvartal 95 was also reported by Ukrainian media to have performed for Ukrainian troops in Mariupol, and later donated one (1) million hryvnias to the Ukrainian army during the war at the Donbas area sparking petitions from Russian politicians and artists to ban his works in Russia.
When a new political party called ‘Servant of the People’ was registered by the members of Zelenskyy’s Kvartal 95 in March 31, 2018, tongues set wagging with Zelenskyy denying any immediate plans to enter politics claiming the registration was done to avoid misappropriation by others.
Getting Here
Opinion polls in months leading to the presidential election favored him as the peoples preferred choice if he decided to run. Eventually, on the 31st of December 2018, he announced his candidacy for president thereby putting all speculations to rest.
Not bothering to release a detailed plan and policy as others before him, Zelenskyy engaged in minimal interaction with mainstream media almost totally boycotting them. He instead focused on creating a lot of YouTube videos and depended a lot on his social media interactions. Zelenskyy had been able to convince the electorate to give him a chance at the presidency and as an option to rallies and campaigns, Zelenskyy alongside his team members at Kvartal 95 conducted stand-up comedy show across Ukraine. Following his widespread popularity and the public’s disposition towards Zelenskyy, former President Poroshenko was unsettled leading him to insinuate that “a win for Zelenskyy in the elections will benefit Russia”, this has turned out to be the total opposite of the current situation at hand. Zelenskyy went on to win both the first round of the elections on 31st March and the run-off election on April 21st 2019, finishing with 73% of the total votes to become the sixth (6th) President of Ukraine.
Pop - Culture
An ardent social media enthusiast employing the use of Instagram and other social media platforms, Zelenskyy utilizes far-reaching and unique communication methods almost totally shunning traditional methods for information dissemination. These methods have proven quite effective since his campaign period all the way to this time largely playing a role to help garner support and aids for his country during this war.
More than half of his team members in his production company have gone ahead to hold prominent positions in his cabinet including Kvartal 95 henchman Ivan Bakanov who became the head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Since the escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s ‘Servant of the People” show has a received a boost and increased in its popularity ratings among viewers. Foreign companies are also said to be currently scrambling over broadcasting rights which is now doubling in value.
What now?
With the battle against Covid still raging on and many nations of the world recovering and fighting to get back on their feet, Ukraine, a nation with over 43 million people are dealing with a new reality. The dark fight for survival, for life, for the preservation of a people, long-lived values, history, a rich culture and a place to call home has raged on unabated. The outcome of this crime against humanity is totally unknown as calls by international mediators to cease fire and end the war has fallen on deaf ears. Time is ticking, the whole world is watching and the fate of what will be the lot of a people rests in the decisions and indecisions of one man; the actor, comedian and president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy.
This is a good example of firm leadership. Irrespective of the side we support, one thing is clear and that thing is that Zelensky has proven to be a firm leader although he has made some mistakes like relying on the weak and morally bankrupt Western powers. He should negotiate a "seize fire" agreement with President Putin and ignore the West. Just to add, the covid 19 fiasco is no longer an issue. Most countries have lifted up restrictions and mandates.