Zelensky A Biography

Three years after the political novice Volodymyr Zelensky was elected to Ukraine’s highest office, he found himself catapulted into the role of war-time leader.  The former comedian has become the public face of his country’s courageous and bloody struggle against a brutal invasion.  Zelensky’s extraordinary leadership in the face of Russia’s aggression is an inspiration to everyone who stands opposed to the appalling violence unleashed on Ukraine.  

This book – the first biography of Zelensky published in English – tells his astonishing story.  It has been revised and updated for this new paperback edition.

Serhii Rudenko is a Ukrainian journalist and political commentator who has published several books on Ukrainian politicians.

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Preface: Zelensky’s Political Oscar



1    Ten Assassination Attempts on President Zelensky

2    The Campaign for President

3    “Let It Be the Stadium Then!”

4    Zelensky and Forty-two Million Presidents

5    Devirtualization of Servant of the People

6    A Mad Printer for the President

7    Trump’s Impeachment

8    Vice-President Bohdan

9    The Cosmic Year of 1978

10   The Irreplaceable Yuliya Mendel

11   Look into the Eyes of Putin and …

12   The Amateur on an Electric Scooter

13   A Little Bell for Maslyakov

14   Godfather Rodnyansky

15   A Scandal in Jurmala

16   The Family of Kvartal 95

17   The Kadyrov Ordeal

18   Ebony Rods

19   Zelensky's Double

20   Zelensky’s Ceremonial General

21   Zelensky’s Shefir Brothers

22   Kolomoisky’s Knife

23   Poroshenko on His Knees

24   The Zelensky Collective

25   Zelensky’s Idol Syvokho

26   The Polygraph for “Servants of the People”

27   Who Turned Zelensky into an Addict?

28   Zelensky under Yermak

29   Zelensky’s Dream Team

30   Zelensky’s Architect

31   The Magic Number 95

32   He Who Burdened Zelensky with the Presidency

33   A Gagarin for Zelensky

34   A Black Mirror for a Hero

35   Zvirobiy, Fedyna, and a Victim

36   Wagnergate: A Story with Many Unknowns

37   How the Oligarch Akhmetov Prepared a Coup for Zelensky

38   The Bucha Massacre



Epilogue: The President of War



Chronology