Zelensky tells the extraordinary tale of a boy born in the Soviet Union, who, in 2022, found himself at the head of a country being invaded by Russia. The Ukrainian president’s memories, recalled in an exclusive interview, are interspersed with accounts from those who witnessed his youth and rise to power. Featuring rare access to President Zelenksy and the people who have known him since his childhood – as well as photos, film archives and never-before-seen eyewitness accounts – this film paints a picture of both the president and his country.
Episode two opens with the Maidan Revolution of 2013. Zelensky was in Moscow when thousands of Ukrainians crammed into Kyiv’s main square to declare their preference for Europe over Moscow, much to the displeasure of their pro-Russian president. By then, Zelensky was the CEO of a thriving audiovisual company, Kvartal 95.
On 1st March 2014, he appeared on Ukrainian television to solemnly address the Russian and Ukrainian presidents. The annexation of Crimea and the war in the Donbass had resolved him to end his contracts with Russia. Despite having avoided military service and being unable to stand the sight of blood, Zelensky took his troupe on a tour of the Donbass to raise soldier morale.
This episode introduces us to Alekseï Kiriouchtechenko and Yuriy Kostyuk, the director and screenwriter of the hit series Servant of the People. Zelensky played the main character: an everyman from Ukraine who becomes president almost by accident. This was enough to plant a seed in his brain…
In late 2018, he surprised almost everyone by standing as a candidate in the presidential election and winning a landslide victory. Taken aback by the Russian invasion of February 24th 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky chose to stay put rather than run away.