March 24th marks the first month since the beginning to the Russian invasion on Ukraine and involves two big protagonists. Vladimir Putin, the man in charge of Russia since 2022 on two spells and Volodymyr Zelensky, the 44-year-old former comic actor who played a character as the Ukrainian president and later went from fiction to reality.
The first 30 days of war left thousands of deaths, including civilians and children, 3.5 million people who have crossed Ukraine’s international borders as refugees and plenty of dramatic footage of the massive destruction caused by the constant bombings.
According to Kyiv Independent, an English-spoken digital media in Ukraine, 1,351 of Russian troops died in Ukraine, and 3,925 wounded; NATO estimates that figure bewteen 7,000 to 15,000, while Ukraine says it’s 16,100 the dead soldiers.
⚡️In a rare update on losses, Russia says 1,351 of its troops have been killed in Ukraine, and 3,925 wounded.
NATO estimates that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, while Ukraine estimates it to be 16,100 troops.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 25, 2022
Before, on March 19, the official Twitter account of Ukraine stated that, in 24 days of war, Russia had launched 1,080 missiles, 112 Ukrainian children were killed and 140 got wounded, 669 schools and 117 medical facilities had been damaged and thousands of apartment buildings were ruined.
Russian aggression in figures
2️⃣4️⃣ days of Russian all-out invasion
1️⃣0️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ Russian missiles launched
1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣ killed 1️⃣4️⃣0️⃣ wounded Ukrainian children
6️⃣6️⃣9️⃣ schools 1️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ medical facilities ruined or damaged
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣s of ruined apartment buildings
Help Ukraine👇 pic.twitter.com/WQ6ZnnJV0G
— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) March 19, 2022
Beyond from the undeniable and raw reality, several protagonists have emerged. But one stands from the rest because of his communication skills: Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine.
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He started a joke…
Zelensky’s candidacy for the 2019 presidential election did not mean to be serious, at first. But the former comedian ended up sweeping his rival, Petro Poroshenko, in the second round, with more than 70% of the vote.
Zelensky rose to fame with a television series in which he played the role of a profane school teacher who became the country’s president after a video aired of him launching into a tirade against corruption in Ukraine.
This broadcast perfectly captured the mood in the country after the pro-EU revolution of 2014, which ousted Víctor Yanukóvich, an impending president from the Kremlin and sparked a war against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Relying on the same elements that he uses today to spread his messages in the midst of war, Zelensky’s 2019 election campaign won on social media, avoiding traditional media interviews and rallies, using online videos to try to show off his charisma. and more direct communication.
Just a normal guy
His rival Poroshenko made fun at his use of Ukrainian because Volodymyr Zelensky, born in the country’s southern industrial city of Krivoy Rog, is Russian. Then-President Poroshenko also ridiculed him saying that he did not have the political stature to stand up to Putin.
“I am not a politician, just a normal guy who has come to break the system,” Zelensky replied in the first round of the presidential elections, which cost him criticism for his supposed lack of seriousness and height for the position.
During his inaugural speech, Zelensky explained that he had “done everything to make Ukrainians laugh” and when Russian invasion began he wanted to “do everything so that they don’t cry.”
Since he came to power three years ago, he has tried to fulfill his main campaign promises, such as ending the war in the east and ending corruption in the country, which has driven many Ukrainians into poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic and continuing economic problems had eroded voter confidence. But domestic problems have logically disappeared in the current situation.
AFP/César Heredia
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