Had things gone according to Russia’s plan, Volodymyr Zelensky would by now be either dead, courtesy of a Russian assassin, or holed up in exile in some comfortable villa in Surrey, far away from Ukraine. But things didn’t turn out that way. Ukraine is still free; Zelensky, and his family, are very much alive, and even if the Russians don’t actually lose this war, it looks like they cannot win it either, in the sense of occupying the whole of Ukraine’s territory and extirpating any trade of its own proud history and culture. The reason why Vladimir Putin’s euphemistically named “special military operation” failed in its principal objectives is told in BBC Two’s landmark biopic of the Ukrainian leader, The Zelensky Story.
Specifically, we see footage from 2022 of Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv apprehending a gang of Putin’s goons on their way to kill Zelensky; and we hear from Boris Johnson, indiscreet as ever, telling us that he was making preparations to get his friend out of there so he could lead the resistance from the English home counties. Yet, as we know, Zelensky did not leave his people because, as he explains in a remarkable and very personal interview, “if I am not here, people will stop fighting”.
Soon after the Russians attacked, he started making those short videos on his smartphone, to show he was indeed still in Kyiv, and he had not fled as, it seems, Putin expected. As one of the experts interviewed makes plain, had Zelensky not been so smart and so stubborn, and patriotic enough to defy and surprise Putin, then the first great international war of the 21st century would have already been lost.
Esta historia es de la edición September 05, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 05, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Starmer could U-turn and call grooming gangs inquiry
PM prepared to grant new probe if victims’ groups want one
Kyrgios to return but keeps focus on Sinner and Swiatek
Nick Kyrgios just wants to speak his truth, man. He does, after all, have his own podcast to go along with his blue tick on X/Twitter, where he is not afraid to add a hot take or two to the big topics. It's hardly a new development.
Slot eyes strong second half as Reds dream of quadruple
Arne Slot did not use the word, though Jurgen Klopp became quite familiar with it.
Isak stars as Newcastle expose Arsenal's failings
A night that was about whether you could take your chances; for goals, and maybe for finals.
Britons splurge £13bn on festive fun – but inflation may leave a nasty hangover
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Next posts rise in sales but warns of difficult year ahead
UK retail outlet Next has posted another rise in sales ahead of expectations over the Christmas period, but warned that a price increase is on the cards for 2025 as it looks to overcome raised costs following last year's Budget.
Carney failed to stop Brexit but hopes to save Canada
Mark Carney may enter the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as leader of Canada's Liberal Party.
Trump fails to rule out use of force to take Greenland
US president-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
At least 126 dead in Tibet after powerful earthquake
A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the foothills of the Himalayas yesterday near one of Tibet’s holiest cities, killing at least 126 people and flattening hundreds of houses and causing tremors felt in Nepal, Bhutan and India.
Far-right firebrand's ghost will loom large over Europe
The death of Jean-Marie Le Pen should give us a moment to ponder the long march of the French far right and the rise to power of fascistic parties across Europe.