Once comedian today president, 10 truths of Volodymyr Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has won much sympathy and praise for his stance and decision not to flee Ukraine in the face of Russian occupation. In contrast to former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who fled Kabul when the Taliban invaded, Zelensky has also rejected a US offer to evacuate the country. "I need ammunition, not a trip," the president said.

Here are 10 things you need to know about Zelensky

1. Zelensky is a Russian-speaking Jew known for his roles as a comedian.

2. His grandfather served in the Red Army during World War II. Recalling this, he said recently: "It is said that we are Nazis, but how can a people support the Nazis, a people who gave more than 8 million lives for the victory over Nazism? How can I be a Nazi? Yes "I remind you of my grandfather, who went through all the wars of the Soviet army and died as a colonel in independent Ukraine."

3. Zelensky has a degree in law, but he has never worked in this field.

4. In the 2019 elections, he was the most unlikely candidate. But after he announced his entry into the election, Zelensky was ahead in the opinion poll.

5. Before entering politics, Zelensky was an actor, a comedian. He also had a production studio. His most famous TV show is "Servant of the People" where he played the role of a schoolteacher who becomes president of Ukraine.

6. Zelensky won the 2019 election with 73% of the vote.

7. Volodymyr Zelensky has been accused of corruption and has been mentioned in the Pandora Papers.

8. In his presidential campaign, Zelensky had promised to end the conflict with Russia.

9. When Zelensky became president, many called him a Ukrainian Donald Trump because of his connection to the entertainment industry.

10. Married to Olena Zelenska since 2003, Zelensky has a son and a daughter.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, he addressed the Ukrainians and communicated with the world through social media. On Saturday, he posted a selfie video amid the sounds of explosions where he said he is in Kiev and will remain so. "The truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will protect them all," he said.