Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the President of Ukraine. He was born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, in 1978. Before becoming president, he was a comedian and actor. He became known worldwide for his bravery during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Early Life

Zelenskyy studied law in college but fell in love with comedy and acting. He starred in a popular Ukrainian TV show where he played a teacher who accidentally becomes president. The show made him very famous in Ukraine. He decided to run for president for real in 2019.

Leading Ukraine

Zelenskyy won the presidential election by a large margin in 2019. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he refused to leave the country. He stayed in Kyiv to lead his people. His courage and speeches rallied support from countries around the world.

Fun Facts

• Zelenskyy won the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars before becoming president.
• He played a fictional president on TV before becoming the real president.
• He gave speeches to governments around the world by video during the war.

Did You Know?

When offered a chance to leave Ukraine during the invasion, Zelenskyy reportedly said, 'I need ammunition, not a ride.' His decision to stay made him a symbol of bravery.