Zelensky Ukraine War: 12 months of Ukraine war, learn how Zelensky became the nation’s unlikely hero, gave a tough fight to Putin

Aberystwyth (UK): ‘The battle is on. I want ammunition, not a ride.’ These words, spoken by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in response to the Americans’ offer to leave Kiev immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, laid the foundation for his reputation as a hero. Zelensky’s reputation has changed over the past 12 months, both at home and abroad. Despite his landslide victory in 2019, there was widespread dismay in Ukraine in the years following his election. This was due to his handling of the pandemic and his failure to deliver on promises made during the election campaign, particularly promises such as cracking down on corruption and ending the war in Donbass.

By December 2021 opinion polls showed that only 27% of Ukrainians trusted him. And as more than 100,000 Russian troops prepared to invade Ukraine, there was widespread skepticism in the West about Zelensky’s ability to lead his country during a war of this scale. A comedian and comedian, Zelensky was best known for his portrayal of a schoolteacher who unexpectedly becomes president in the popular Ukrainian television series Servant of the People. But both Ukraine and Zelensky have passed their performance limits in this struggle. By December 2022, Ukrainians’ trust in their president had increased to 84%.

Worldwide praise for Zelensky’s personal courage

Ukrainians – soldiers and civilians alike – demonstrated that they are both willing and able to defend their country. Not only did they repulse the initial assault on Kiev, but also managed to recapture 54% of the territory captured by Russia since February last year. Zelensky’s display of personal courage and determination throughout the war has won worldwide acclaim. Even the US President has agreed to risk airstrikes to go to Kiev and stand shoulder to shoulder with Zelensky. I, along with my colleague Veronica Kitchen, have conducted research into heroism and global politics that reveals the political significance of heroes and heroic stories.

Heroes and the stories told about them have the ability to inspire societies to come together and stick together, especially in times of crisis. There are certain acts that are generally associated with heroes and heroism, especially those associated with a willingness to risk one’s own safety and even one’s life to protect a cause or the lives of others. Zelensky’s decision to remain in Kiev and share the dangers of war with his fellow citizens is in itself an important component of his heroic story. Another characteristic of heroism is the determination to overcome obstacles that may seem difficult or insurmountable. There is nothing like heroism in an easy victory.

Although military strategy experts and Western policymakers have been impressed by Ukraine’s successes on the battlefield, no one expects this war to end quickly or easily. The threat Zelensky faces amid constant Russian attacks and repeated assassination attempts highlights that both the outcome of this war and his own existence are far from certain. But Kitchen and I argue that there is more to being a hero than simply completing a series of tasks on a checklist. According to the results of our research, context is important. A hero is a hero for a specific time, place and people. In fact, people are every bit as important to heroic tales as the heroes themselves. Our heroes have the ability to inspire us because they really are our best role models: we want to be like them and be looked up to by others.

Zelensky stresses the unity of Ukrainians

Our heroes embody the values ​​we most admire and cherish. To understand why Zelensky is so widely regarded as a hero, we need to understand the values ​​he represents. In their recent book, The Zelensky Effect, political scientists Olga Onch and Henry E. Hale argue that the president emphasizes the unity of all Ukrainians and expresses a civic national identity that is shared by the overwhelming support of his fellow citizens. Is. This means that the main loyalty of Ukrainians is to the state rather than to a region, language or religion. According to an August 2022 opinion poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 85% of Ukrainians consider themselves citizens of Ukraine, rather than those belonging to eastern or western regions of the country, speaking Russian or Ukrainian, Christians or Jews. Are.

But while Zelensky’s emphasis on Ukrainian national identity helps explain his ability to connect with his own citizens, it does not explain Ukraine’s president’s popularity abroad. Here again, shared values ​​are the key. Zelensky consistently describes Ukrainian society as sharing the values ​​of Europe and the West more generally: democracy, liberalism, tolerance and freedom. He frequently refers to Ukraine’s aspirations to join Western institutions such as the European Union and NATO, and argues that totalitarian Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine but to the freedom of the entire world. Zelensky’s ability to tailor his message to his people also ensures that his words resonate.

Zelensky’s status as a hero firmly established

By paraphrasing Winston Churchill when speaking to the House of Commons, or referring to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 when Americans speak to Congress, they create connections that allow others to identify themselves with the struggles in Ukraine. I encourage you to look. Threats to His Image Although Zelensky’s status as a hero appears to be firmly established, it still faces challenges. One such challenge emerged earlier this year in the form of a corruption scandal affecting senior Ukrainian officials. Zelensky took immediate steps to dismiss many of those accused and to reassure Western donors that their money was not being wasted.

But such latest allegations could tarnish his reputation in the eyes of Ukrainians and foreign observers alike. Zelensky’s reputation as a hero rests not only on his personal courage, but also on his ability to articulate a message of shared values ​​and a shared determination to resist the massive offensive by Russian forces that began 12 months ago rests on. Whether his heroics will continue to inspire or be soon forgotten will depend on whether he can maintain unity among Ukrainians for peace and the rebuilding of Ukraine.

(Jennifer Mathers, Aberystwyth University)