Dressed in combats and with his boyish good looks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amassed a legion of fans with just one photo.
Pictured in the centre of Kyiv while rallying his troops against Russian forces, Zelensky became an unlikely sex symbol overnight.
The photo and accompanying video made him a trending topic on social media almost immediately.
RT if you think @ZelenskyyUa Is a BADASS. #SlavaUkraine pic.twitter.com/IrfAlHkzkO
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) February 26, 2022
Voted into office in 2019, the charismatic Zelensky won by a landslide, and it’s not hard to see why.
In his now-viral video, he says: “We are all here, defending our independence, our country. And it will stay that way.”
The clip which has been endlessly shared, looks like something out of an action flick – particularly the version that has been overdubbed with “Shook Ones, Part II” by rap duo Mobb Deep, which has been viewed more than 6 million times, according to The Washington Post.
went and translated that zelensky selfie video from the streets of kyiv, just to know what he was actually saying in response to the russian reports that he had fled -- so here it is for the rest of you, plus this music naturally felt right. enjoy. pic.twitter.com/JDLXtYAq5q
— Alex Kliment (@SaoSasha) February 25, 2022
But his unwavering bravery has produced another by-product – women and men across the globe are swooning over him. And it could be due to the fact that before he became president, he was a comedian and actor.
According to The Washington Post, video clips from his past life have begun circulating on social media, including one of him winning Ukraine’s first season of “Dancing With the Stars” and voicing Paddington Bear for the local cuts of the movies.
Twitter has been awash with compliments.
“BREAKING: every woman in your life now has at least a small crush on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it,” tweeted one user.
BREAKING: every woman in your life now has at least a small crush on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it
— Emma Salisbury (@salisbot) February 27, 2022
Another said: “This right here i represent you the hottest, sexist, bravest man in the world. He's sexy, he has a lion heart and he fights for his country. He FIGHTS for his glory country.”
@ZelenskyyUa Zelenskyy
— Eliwood Uranus 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@EliwoodNguyen1) February 25, 2022
This right here i represent you the hottest, sexist, bravest man in the world. He's sexy, he has a lionheart and he fights for his country. He FIGHTS for his glory country pic.twitter.com/53HyyJdyzQ
This pic, this man, who was once at the mercy and feet of #trump is now the mose brave, admired, SEXY man alive!!! #Zelensky #VolodymyrZelensky #BraveUkraine https://t.co/1Tvk9Kr3jP
— Savannah Serenity (@SavannahSeren12) February 27, 2022
Zelensky, 44, was born in Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine, to Jewish parents, the Daily Mail reported. He started showing an interest in politics in 2014. He is married to activist and architect Olena Zelenska, and they share two children together.
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