Volodymyr Zelenskyy ensured his inaugural speech was watched around the world when he became President of Ukraine in May, using Russian and Ukrainian to warn about Vladimir Putin’s military buildup and call for unity. It demonstrated his show Servant of the People which depicts an educator who becomes leader after going viral for criticizing corrupt politicians.
In 2021, the year before Russia invaded Ukraine, Zelenskyy and his family received 10.8 million Ukrainian hryvnias ($286,168), a decrease of nearly 12 million hryvnias from the year before. About $142,000 in revenue from the sale of government bonds was included in the 2021 estimate.
As a result, income for Zelenskyy and his family fell drastically. Although his personal assets are estimated to total an estimated $1 billion, his state-owned income had decreased substantially, falling by half or more since 2009. Hundreds of foreign companies have reduced or suspended operations, leading to substantial losses for state coffers. Furthermore, this economic crisis has forced tens of thousands of talented people from Russia – such as IT specialists, entrepreneurs, doctors and professors – to flee. Many artists, writers and journalists have also left Russia, seeing no future for themselves in a country which has long punished critical dissenters. As a result, foreign sources of income for Russians continue to diminish quickly; by 2021 alone a significant fraction lived in poverty.
Zelenskyy has struck a chord with many Ukrainians who view him as their last chance for freedom from an system they perceive to be corrupt and ineffective. Unfortunately, his story has also shed light on some of his inner workings and made him more susceptible to attack than before.
Zelenskyy quickly established himself as a popular media figure despite his youth and lack of political experience, becoming the first show ever to use a televised studio set, while Kvartal 95 (Qarter 95; “Quarter 95”) won an improvisational comedy competition broadcast on 1+1 known as KVN (Klub Vesyolykh I Nakhodchivykh; “Club of Funny and Ingenious People”).
Early in his acting career, Zelenskyy earned praise for his ability to relate to everyday people while receiving criticism over his privileged upbringing and what some saw as lack of depth in his performances.
Zelenskyy stands out among Ukrainian politicians as an exceptional politician: not only a populist but also an accomplished businessman and media mogul with an understanding of what resonates with voters, Zelenskyy was able to tap into disillusionment that had been mounting since 2014 uprisings that forced former president Viktor Yanukovych out and brought billionaire Petro Poroshenko into power.
Following Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in March, its forces started amassing along its border with Ukraine. Western leaders attempted to press Putin for concessions but were unable to prevent a conflict which would cripple global economies.
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