Smartphone in hand, Ukraine's president takes centre stage in a capital under attack

[Uncle Joe]

LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The morning after Russian missiles rained down on Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed the nation in his favourite style: the selfie video.

Unshaven, wearing a khaki jacket and flashing a smile, he told the nation that contrary to reports of him trying to flee, he was staying put in the capital.

"Good morning to all Ukrainians! Lately there has been a lot of fake information online that I am calling on our army to lay down their arms and to evacuate. Listen. I am here," he said, in a video that received 3 million views on Instagram in an hour.

The setting was suitably eerie, with Zelenskiy standing in the morning light in front of the "House with Chimeras", an Art Nouveau landmark covered in otherworldly animal figures across the road from his presidential office in Kyiv.

(snip)

It has been an unlikely transformation for the 44-year-old, who was a comedian and actor with no political experience before he was elected as president in 2019 - except when he played a fictional president in a satirical TV series.

(snip)


https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/smartphone-hand-ukraines-president-takes-centre-stage-capital-under-attack-2022-02-26/

[Scrivener7]

1. That guy is amazing.

[CousinIT]

2. Reuters does an entire article on a video that they don't provide a link to.

Awesome.

[Cracklin Charlie]

3. Sending vibes to the gods to keep Zelensky safe...

His people need him right now. And he seems to know exactly what is needed.

[Indykatie]

4. Articles Rarely Mention Zelensky Also Has A Law Degree

Clearly he isn't your typical "comedian", a description that many think should diminish his strengths and talents.