From "Kvartal" to the Presidential Office: the journey of Volodymyr Zelensky from comedian to politician.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky began his career not as a politician. He gained his popularity as a comedian and the founder of the "Kvartal 95" studio. This team joked about sensitive topics and mocked the political realities in Ukraine during their performances, with Volodymyr Oleksandrovych as the lead actor.

At the height of his popularity, Zelensky decided to completely change his life – he paused his successful career as a humorist to run for president. "Telegraph" will recall the journey of the current head of our state on the occasion of his birthday today, January 25.

Zelensky's Journey from Comedian to President

After finishing his performances in KVN, Zelensky, along with his colleagues, founded the "Kvartal 95" studio, which later became one of the most successful comedic projects in Ukraine. Subsequently, the participants performed concerts and became mega popular.

In their performances, the comedians mocked Ukrainian politics and certain figures, tackling issues often avoided by other humorists. Sharp humor, charisma, and artistry were inherent to Volodymyr Zelensky, making him the face of "Kvartal".

In 2012, when "Kvartal 95 Studio" began collaborating with "1+1", other projects started appearing on the channel — "League of Laughter", "Guess the Box", "Evening Quarter", "Games of Jokes", "Women's Quarter". Volodymyr Zelensky was the star of all these shows, while his wife, Olena Zelenska, remained out of the spotlight. She had been a scriptwriter for "Kvartal" since its inception.

In 2019, during a broadcast on the "1+1" channel, the then head of "Kvartal 95 Studio" announced his intention to run for the presidency of Ukraine. This marked the beginning of the election campaign. Zelensky's team released creative videos that stood out among other candidates' clips.

One of the most notable events of the presidential election was the debates and a video recorded by Zelensky, in which he called out Petro Poroshenko.

"You must publicly state that the debates will not be with a Kremlin puppet or Kolomoisky, not with a 'vatnik', not with a 'maloross', not with a boor, not with a clown, but with a candidate for the presidency of Ukraine," Zelensky said in the video.

The debates took place on April 19 at the NSK "Olympiyskiy". The event was attended by 22,000 Ukrainians. There were two stages set up for each candidate at the stadium. However, Petro Poroshenko approached Zelensky's stage after the national anthem of Ukraine was played.

One month later, on May 20, 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky was inaugurated. The newly elected President of Ukraine announced the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada and suggested that the Cabinet of Ministers resign.

Meanwhile, oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky and Andriy Portnov — an associate of Yanukovych — returned to Ukraine. In 2019, Zelensky's approval rating fell to 52%. However, according to data from KMIS, in September-October 2024, 59% of Ukrainians trust President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During his presidency, Zelensky's appearance has undergone noticeable changes. Previously, he often appeared in public in elegant suits and with a clean-shaven face, but with the onset of full-scale war, his style has become more militarized. Instead of business suits, he opts for olive-colored military-style clothing, and facial stubble or even a beard has appeared.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported what is known about Volodymyr Zelensky's children. The head of state emphasized that if his children were to leave the country, it would be unfair.