Full Name: Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy
Profession: Actor, Comedian and President of Ukraine
Biography: Zelensky began his career as an actor and comedian, known particularly for playing the President of Ukraine in Servant of the People (2015–2019). Following the popularity of this show, a political party was founded and then, on the 31st of December 2018, Zelensky announced that he was running for President.
Zelensky won the election against incumbent President Petro Poroshenko with over 70% of the vote, and took office in May 2019. Since then, Zelensky has guided the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Zelensky promised to settle the conflict between Ukraine and Russia by engaging in dialogue with Vladimir Putin, he was thrust into the global spotlight after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Born: January 25, 1978
Birthplace: Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Soviet Union
Age: 46 years old
Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Snake
Star Sign: Aquarius
Historical Events
- 2019-04-21 Ukrainian comedian Volodymyr Zelensky wins the country's presidential election in a landslide
- 2022-03-08 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invokes Winston Churchill speaking virtually to the UK parliament "We will not fail. We will fight till the end"
- 2022-03-16 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses US Congress remotely pleading for further aid against the Russian invasion
- 2022-04-05 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges UN Security Council to act against Russia, accusing Russian military of the worst war crimes since WWII, including execution, rape and torture of civilians
- 2022-05-01 US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leads surprise congressional delegation to Ukraine to met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- 2022-07-30 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for mandatory evacuation of civilians from eastern Donetsk region amid fierce fighting
- 2022-08-18 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary General António Guterres warn of "another Chernobyl" due to fighting by Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant at a summit in Lviv
- 2022-12-21 Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Washington, DC, meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House, and addresses Congress
- 2023-01-30 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that Russia has begun its "big revenge" with assaults around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine after a couple months of stalemate
- 2023-05-21 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a surprise appearance at G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, with world leaders also making a statement to condemn Chinese acts of "economic coercion"
- 2023-06-04 Ukrainian counteroffensive begins with increased fighting in the east and south of the country
- 2023-07-30 Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky warns war is coming back to Russia after a drones attack on Moscow
- 2023-09-22 US President Joe Biden announces a military aid package for Ukraine while meeting with the country's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House
- 2023-09-26 The speaker of Canada's House of Commons resigns after inviting a man who fought with a Nazi military unit to attend a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- 2024-02-07 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky removes his top general Valery Zaluzhny, in the military's most significant shake-up in years
- 2024-02-25 President Volodymyr Zelensky says 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died fighting in the two years since Russia invaded
Biographies and Sources
- 31,000 Ukrainian Soldiers Killed in Two Years of War, Zelensky Says - The New York Times
- 5 takeaways from Volodymyr Zelensky’s historic visit to Washington - CNN
- Biden announces $325 million military aid package during a White House meeting with Zelenskyy - NBC News
- Canada’s House speaker resigns over inviting a man who fought for a Nazi unit to Parliament - Associated Press
- G7 takes stand against China’s “economic coercion” - BBC News
- Pelosi leads congressional delegation to meet with Zelenskyy in Kyiv - NBC News
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 8, 2023 - Institute for the Study of War
- Ukraine evacuates civilians from besieged city as 2 million flee Russian assault - NBC News
- Ukraine war: Damage to nuclear plant would be suicide - UN chief By Matt Murphy - BBC News
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says Russia’s ‘big revenge’ has begun - Al Jazeera
- Zelensky after Moscow drone attack: War coming back to Russia - BBC News
- Zelensky Removes His Top General, in Major Shake-Up of Ukraine Military - The New York Times
- Zelenskyy calls for mass evacuations as fighting rages in Ukraine's east - NBC News
- Zelenskyy delivers emotional appeal to Congress for more military support - NBC News
- Zelenskyy urges UN to ‘act immediately’ to stop Russian attacks - Al Jazeera
Bela Lugosi
Josh Gad
Shah Rukh Khan
Joan Rivers
Pete Davidson
Stephen Fry