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It's OK. Narrator: This is Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Man: Zelenskyy feels like someone who's willing to--to talk to you.

He feels like someone you know.

A lot of people really do relate to him.

Narrator: He's the actor who played the president on-screen.

Hello?

-Good morning, Mr. Goloborodko.

Can I connect you with Angela Merkel?

Yes, you can connect.

Woman: He became an incredibly recognizable figure.

By 2018, he has a million followers on Instagram.

Narrator: His life imitated art when he decided to run for office for real...and win.

[Crowd cheering] Man: Putin must've thought that it was Christmas every day when a comic actor had announced himself as a presidential candidate.

[Speaking native language] Narrator: The last two weeks have seen Zelenskyy give the performance of his life, in which he's encapsulated the defiance of a nation.

Who is the man who now has the world's attention?

Man: If you ask me whether he ever expected to be a war leader, I would say no.

Narrator: How did he turn from joker to improbable wartime leader?

Woman: Many people were actually scared of entrusting Ukraine to somebody who has absolutely no experience of statecraft.

Narrator: And as the Russian forces close in, what is the next chapter in his incredible story?

[Speaking Ukrainian] Narrator: February the 24th, 2022.

44-year-old President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making an impassioned plea to 144 million Russians to save Ukraine.

[Speaking Russian] Woman: So, he's appealing over the heads of the Kremlin to the Russians and saying, stand up against your own dictatorial government.

Don't believe what you hear on state television and try and stop this wicked war.

Narrator: Zelenskyy's words fail to prevent the horror that was to come.

Time would run out.

The face-off with Putin inevitable.

Man: Here in Ukraine in the last fortnight, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been thrust onto the world stage as an inspirational wartime leader against Vladimir Putin.

So, who is this man, really?

How did this extraordinary story begin?

[Crowd cheering] 25th of January, 1978.

Zelenskyy is born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, then part of the USSR.

The son of a Jewish, Russian-speaking family... whose relatives were survivors of the Holocaust.

Zelenskyy grew up in a big industrial town.

There was not much in terms of cultural life.

His family was very simple, just trying to make ends meet in the town that was falling apart after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

His father was a computer science professor, his mother was an engineer, and he was top of the class.

He studied piano and guitar.

He was a outgoing child.

He has always said that he had a typical Soviet childhood.

Frei: In 2000, despite Zelenskyy completing his law degree, his passion lay elsewhere-- in entertainment and comedy and a group called Kvartal 95.

[Laughter] [Man speaking native language] He joined this competitive improvising community.

[Speaking native language] Woman: His team, [speaking Russian], how it's called in Russian, it was Russian competition of funny guys from various universities, from various cities across former Soviet Union.

[Both speaking native language] Frei: By the early 2000s, Zelenskyy and Kvartal 95 are flying.

[Man speaking native language] Frei: And they're offered a huge opportunity-- their own TV show.

[Speaking native language] [Laughter] [Piano playing] [Rhythmic clapping, laughter] Frei: The chemistry and comic timing of the group is seen here, later in their career.

Honestly, these jokes, they, they were sometimes rude, sometimes brutal, sometimes very primitive.

[Music ends] [Laughter and applause] Frei: As his profile grows, he marries Olena, his sweetheart from university, in 2003.

She's also part of his comedy team.

What is interesting is that his wife, actually, is a writer, and she was involved in the production of Kvartal 95.

In this comedy, you're part of a team.

It's not about having an ego.

He's a workaholic.

I think everything we see about Zelenskyy that is so engaging, inspiring, and authenticity, it all comes from years of performance discipline.

That is what really is the trump card in his arsenal.

["Blue Suede Shoes" playing] Frei: And in 2006, he answers the call that so many celebrities wait for... [Tango music playing] [Jazzy music playing] appearing on the Ukrainian "Dancing with the Stars."

Oh, my God, have you seen his moves in that?

He doesn't really care if he isn't a perfect dancer.

Frei: Zelenskyy's talents take him all the way to the final, which he wins.

He's cast in blockbuster movies... and even becomes the Ukrainian voice of Paddington Bear in the 2014 hit movie... [Toothbrushes whirring] his gentle and soothing delivery evident in this behind-the-scenes promo.

[Speaking Ukrainian] Frei: But as his career continues to build, a political crisis in Ukraine is about to profoundly change his country forever.

[Crowd shouting indistinctly] [Chanting in native language] Yanukovych, this grotesquely corrupt, uh, Putin puppet of a president.

He didn't sign a European trade deal which had been in the works for years and years, and instead he said he was gonna sign one with Moscow.

Frei: The former Ukrainian president's decision sends the country into turmoil and pro-EU protests erupt in Kyiv.

In the violence, over 100 people die, and the government is toppled.

Yanukovych lost his nerve and he fled to Russia.

And at this moment when Ukraine didn't have a government, Putin seized his chance.

[Bell chiming] Frei: Fearful of losing influence, President Putin invades and annexes Crimea from Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Moscow-backed separatists take over the Donbas region in the east.

The revolution pushes Ukraine closer to the West and further away from Russia's grasp.

Ever since then, Ukraine has been at war with Russia along this line of contact, um, which surrounds Donetsk and Luhansk.

[All shouting in native language] Frei: The upheaval pulls Zelenskyy towards a new project-- a political satire that airs in 2015 called "Servant of the People."

[Men speaking native language] This history teacher that suddenly becomes the president of Ukraine.

He embedded in this film a lot of grievances and feelings of Ukrainians.

This was exactly connecting to those emotions towards the West, towards Ukraine, towards Russia overall.

His show was immensely popular in Russia as well as Ukraine.

So, he was very popular figure.

[Car alarm blaring] Frei: As Ukraine struggled with corruption and the influence of oligarchs, Zelenskyy's fictional president, seen here, represented an idealistic and honest politician people could believe in.

[Car alarm blaring] [Cell phone rings] -Hello?

-Good morning, Mr. Goloborodko.

Can I connect you with Angela Merkel?

Yes, you can connect.

[Line ringing] You see immediately that it's the creation of somebody who's very politically savvy and very politically engaged.

"Servant of the People" was hugely popular.

It was in a way to de-stress from a painful political reality to see this different side of Ukraine and politics that help people go through, and humor was very important.

Frei: By 2018, art begins to mirror real life when Zelenskyy and his colleagues hatch an almost unbelievable plan.

Could he actually run for president?

Kaleniuk: I think he was probably bored of his TV shows and probably he felt that he needed something more.

Frei: New Year's Eve, 2018, Zelenskyy appears on national television... [Speaking native language] with an announcement that stuns the country.

[Speaking native language] It was a sudden disbelief whether this--is this serious?

I think that many people did not believe that he can win.

Ukrainians cannot just imagine how a show business comedian could lead the Ukrainian army to stand against the Russians.

Frei: With a slogan of "No promises, no excuses," Zelenskyy bypasses the traditional campaign trail... [Speaking native language] Frei: and runs his presidential bid almost entirely on social media.

[Speaking native language] It was all short, little, minute-long YouTube videos and Instagram.

Complete contrast to the usual campaign.

He didn't tour the country doing stump speeches at all.

[Speaking native language] Frei: Coming up, how did Zelenskyy convince voters it wasn't just a TV stunt?

Zelenskyy really turned from just the servant of the people, as is the name of his party, into the leader of the nation.

It's a very powerful transformation.

It's OK. Frei: Tonight, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy's country is under attack.

But who is the man that's become an improbable wartime leader?

Back in April 2019, the comedy actor was running for president.

Man: I think people were skeptical at first.

People were surprised.

People thought this isn't serious.

You know, people were kind of looking at, you know, Trump, for example, and saying, well, here's this guy of reality TV show star who becomes a president and now we've got our own.

Frei: Fiction becomes fact.

[Crowd cheering] [Speaking native language] Lutsevych: It was a watershed.

It was almost like he has hacked a political system of Ukraine.

Woman: It was a landslide victory.

It was a really decisive win.

And people were elated.

Frei: Zelenskyy wins more than 73% of the vote.

Even though he's a comedian, this is not a joke.

[Crowd cheering] Lutsevych: Many people were actually scared of entrusting Ukraine to somebody who has absolutely no experience of statecraft.

Frei: Ukraine now gets a proper glimpse of Zelenskyy as a real-life, no longer fictional president at his inauguration before parliament.

[Applause] [Speaking native language] [Cheering and applause] Lutsevych: Zelenskyy inauguration address was very unusual.

I think it was the kind of a new language that has sounded in the chamber of the parliament.

From the very beginning, he wanted to show I am a different president.

I am not some bronze statue up there that is not reachable.

Frei: Zelenskyy won the presidency on a ticket of anti-corruption and a promise to curb the influence of oligarchs.

He might talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?

There was progress with anti-corruption reforms, but then in about half a year, something happened and he changed the prime minister, he changed the reform prosecutor general, um, and there were rollbacks in some of the reforms.

He's done some of what was promised and hoped for, not all of it, and the anti-oligarch law, which he signed last autumn, is problematic in that it is very vague about the definition of what is an oligarch.

Frei: But Zelenskyy's top priority is an end to the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine.

[Speaking native language] [Applause] [Crowd shouting in native language] Frei: Donbas-- where Ukrainian forces have been battling Russian-backed separatists since 2014.

Blacker: In Donbas, Putin probably wants to destabilize Ukraine.

He wants Ukraine to have running conflict, which constantly is a source of economic, political, and geopolitical instability.

[Crowd chanting in native language] Frei: But before grappling with the Russian bear, Zelenskyy has a bout with another strongman president-- He's made me more famous and I've made him more famous.

[Laughter] Pretty early on, after being elected in 2019, Zelenskyy was embroiled in Trump's first impeachment scandal.

Lutsevych: Trump basically demanded that Ukraine launches an investigation on Biden's son for his role in the board of one of the, uh, gas companies for the payments that he received.

We had, uh, I think good phone call.

It was normal.

We spoke about many things and I--so, I think and you read it that nobody push it.

Pushed me.

Yes.

In other words, no pressure.

Despite all the glitches Zelenskyy kind of navigated through, was almost no damage to, to Ukraine.

It is entirely possible that Putin looked at this and thought he could manipulate Zelenskyy in the same kind of way.

I really hope that you and President Putin get together and can solve your problem.

That would be a tremendous achievement, and I know you're trying to do that.

[Reporters talking at once] Frei: December 2019.

Putin and Zelenskyy come face to face for the first time in Paris.

Kaleniuk: I think Putin expected that Zelenskyy will surrender and give up and will simply be his puppet.

There's no better gift for Putin, who thinks that Ukraine is a joke, than a clown being its president.

Frei: It's tense, but a ceasefire in Donbas is agreed.

It doesn't last, though.

Zelenskyy's stance on Russia hardens.

Putin seeks alternatives to a diplomatic route.

Lutsevych: I think Putin sees this country as a non-country.

He doesn't believe Ukrainians have the right to exist as the country.

Frei: Late 2021.

Russia begins amassing forces on Ukraine's border.

[Speaking native language] [Second man speaking native language] Frei: It says these are training exercises, but as the troop numbers increase, the Western world says it's more than military drills.

My guess is he will move in.

He has to do something.

Today, more than 100,000 Russian troops are gathering on your border.

Frei: But Zelenskyy plays it down.

[Speaking native language] I was in Kyiv in the first week of February, and at that stage, the city was completely calm, completely normal.

People weren't even using the words "war" or "attack."

It was always just the something that might happen.

The mistake was that there were conflicting messages coming from the U.S. administration and from Zelenskyy.

[Indistinct chatter] Frei: As the march to war continues, Zelenskyy declares a day of unity.

He hopes for a diplomatic outcome, even though there are 100,000 Russian soldiers ready to strike.

Zelenskyy's poll ratings are tumbling.

Some Ukrainians ask: is the president in over his head?

Zelenskyy faced this war.

Um, at the beginning, he didn't believe in it.

And I personally was criticizing him for that, but, uh, as in any normal nation, uh, and, um, you know, when the war starts, everybody unites.

[Hissing] Frei: Russia's saber rattling continues with well-publicized missile tests.

Zelenskyy changes tack.

On the eve of invasion, the entertainer president gives the performance of his life.

[Speaking Russian] Frei: He addresses the people of Russia in his own first language--Russian.

[Speaking Russian] It's important that he speaks in Russian to the Russian people.

I think this looks very genuinely because his first language is Russian and also because Russians are used to hearing Zelenskyy on television.

They watched a lot of his shows.

He is a familiar person to the Russians.

If you ask me whether he ex--ever expected to be a war leader, I would say no.

Frei: And then, a defiant message.

[Speaking Russian] [Speaking Russian] Frei: In the early hours of the 24th of February, Putin sends his soldiers into Ukraine.

[Man speaking native language] [Air raid sirens blaring] Frei: While the sirens sound out across Kyiv, Zelenskyy remains calm.

The man who may have been a comedian is now very much a leader.

[Speaking Ukrainian] Zelenskyy really turned from just a servant of the people, as is the name of his party, into the leader of the nation.

It's a very powerful transformation.

Man: But above all, he doesn't look afraid.

He looks as if he means what he says.

Apparently, he was contacted by the Americans and they said, "Would you like us to get you out of the city?"

Wilson: And that produced one of his best lines.

"I don't need a ride.

I need ammunition."

Kaleniuk: It was a very powerful signal.

I think that was the best powerful way to mobilize Ukrainians for President Zelenskyy that we're not giving up.

We're gonna fight to the very end.

Frei: Zelenskyy's selfie video posts serve as both proof of life and messages of solidarity with his country's people.

[Speaking Ukrainian] His skill with social media that--that he used during his original election campaign, he's, he's using brilliantly in his wartime messaging.

Um, so it's still all short, sharp, um, video presentations, it's these snappy lines and the contrast between that and Putin's speeches.

Blacker: He has this sort of persona of the elevated, distant autocrat whose word is law.

Zelenskyy feels like someone who is willing to, to talk to you.

He feels like someone you know.

Uh, a lot of people really do relate to him.

[Applause] Frei: Zelenskyy's stock has risen as sharply as the ruble has fallen.

But while he draws plaudits from other world leaders... [Applause continues] the fighting rages on and even intensifies.

No one really knows what the next days, weeks, or even months will bring in this extraordinary war.

But we do know that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his people are determined and they're in it for the long haul.

But, I repeat again, no one knows at this stage where this story will actually end.

Zelenskyy's country is being destroyed, but in the grimmest of circumstances, the Ukrainian president has inspired a nation to hold firm.

[Speaking Ukrainian] Ukrainians sometimes say, when they watch right now, Zelenskyy's war addresses, they feel like they are watching season 10 of "Servant of the People."

He just changed his suit for the t-shirt.

[Speaking Ukrainian] Kaleniuk: I do respect him a lot for bravery and for his decision to stay and to defend Kyiv and Ukraine until the very end.

[Speaking Ukrainian] He's a symbol of millions of Ukrainians.

But we need to understand clearly that this is Ukraine who is going to win.

It's all Ukrainians, we're all Ukrainians, we're all fighting.

[Speaking Ukrainian] ♪ ♪ ♪ This program was made possible in part by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you.

Thank you.