An ex-comic actor and Russia's 'number one target', Volodymyr Zelenskiy is Ukraine's unlikely wartime leader

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, 44, swept to power in 2019 promising to end a war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. He now, however, faces an invasion by Russian forces that could result in the overthrow of his government and the end of Ukrainian democracy.

Zelenskiy shot to fame in a popular television series "Servant of the People" in which he played an honest school teacher who is elected president and outwits crooked lawmakers and shadowy businessmen.

Zelenskiy's 'Servant of the People' party is named after his TV series and won a big majority in a July 2019 parliamentary election in Ukraine.

Zelenskiy, notably, rode a wave of public discontent with Ukraine's corrupt political elite to victory over wealthy businessman Petro Poroshenko in 2019.

Before 2019, Zelenskiy used to also dress up in buffoonish costumes on stage, perform song and dance acts.

In recent weeks, the Ukrainian President has drawn praise from several Western leaders for his composure and his appeals to his citizens not to panic amid the Russian invasion. 

 

Zelenskiy has said that despite being "the number one target", he plans to stay in Kyiv in the face of the Russian attack.