The Zelensky Story tells the story of Zelensky as you have never seen him before

This definitive boxed series tells the extraordinary story of Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian who played the president and then became the real president of Ukraine…

In three episodes, the series traces Zelensky's journey from a young actor and entertainer to one of the world's most famous heads of state, ruling over a country at war with Vladimir Putin's Russia.

The series' director, Michael Waldman, has the rare opportunity, during several trips to Ukraine, to interview President Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska, who speak candidly about their extraordinary lives. The result is a portrait of a young couple caught in an extraordinary situation – childhood sweethearts who married and became stars before being thrown into politics and into the heart of the largest invasion of Europe since World War II.

In addition to interviews with the family and their inner circle, the series also includes new accounts from leading politicians such as Boris Johnson, Nancy Pelosi, former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Ukrainian Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak, each of whom offers dramatic first-hand accounts of their dealings with Zelensky – and Putin – in the run-up to a large-scale military invasion.

Combining exclusive interviews with extraordinary archive footage never before broadcast in the UK, the series sheds new light on the origins of the war in Ukraine and the two men at its epicentre: Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Zelensky Story, a 3×60 series for BBC Two and iPlayer, was commissioned by Jack Bootle, Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual, and the BBC Commissioning Editor is Simon Young, Head of History. The series was produced by 72 Films in association with the OU and created by a multi-award-winning team: series director Michael Waldman, executive producers David Glover and Jonathan Smith, producer Jecca Powell and producer/director Louis Lee Ray.

The Zelensky Story will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer from 4 September at 6am. Weekly on BBC Two from 4 September at 9pm.

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Michael Waldman, director of the series

72 Films has made documentaries about Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch. Why did you decide to focus this series on President Zelensky?

Zelensky is arguably the most important figure on the world stage today. He stands at the epicenter of the most important political and military storm of the 21st century – a war that inevitably affects us all. Moreover, his personal story is simply extraordinary. What person could be more exciting to get to know?

What challenges did you face while filming in Ukraine?

First of all, the journey! All Ukrainian airspace is completely closed. So the cameraman and I flew to Warsaw, then traveled overland to the Polish-Ukrainian border and hauled all the film equipment onto the (always full) night train to Kyiv. And of course the same in the opposite direction. So it's not easy to make last-minute changes to plans. And once you're there, not only are you occasionally woken up by air raid sirens, but you also have to face the massive security measures when entering the President's office building. And then there are other complicated steps to get into the inner sanctum.

Can you tell us about the other contributors to this series?

My colleagues (producer Jecca Powell, producer/director Louis Lee Ray) have assembled a fascinating array of contributors – from Boris Johnson and Nancy Pelosi to the Ukrainian TV mogul who was one of the first to recognize the entertainment talents of the young Volodymyr Zelensky; the president's old school friends and colleagues; the man Zelensky chose to lead the delegation that tried to negotiate a peace deal with the Russians in the early stages of the war. Each of them provides colorful insights and fascinating details about what Zelensky goes through on this incredible journey.

Was there anything about Zelensky's story that surprised you when making this film?

Before starting this project, I didn't realize that he was so successful not only as an artist but also as a manager. He created an entire company that he ran from scratch – he opened offices in Moscow and then closed the entire Russian business after the Maidan revolution and the invasion of Crimea in 2014.

Have you discovered something new?

As First Lady Olena Zelenska told me on camera: “I never said this out loud – but I had a faint hope that he would not win the election.”

What do you hope viewers will take away from this series?

I hope viewers get a real insight into the fascinating personalities of the President and First Lady. They both seem to be opening up in ways they never have before. And personality matters. Zelensky is under unimaginable pressure – and no small amount of criticism. Who is he really? That's a question that concerns us all.

President Zelenskyj, key quotes

[transcribed]

About his dreams as a child [episode 1]

“I was very free. It was the end of the Soviet Union. What do young people want? They want to be free, they want to see the planet. And where do they want to go? Everywhere. You just want to meet people, talk to them and your eyes are wide, and of course I wanted to find myself in this big world. Of course my parents wanted me to be, well, quiet, calm, yes, and study, and that was it. I found time for everything. [Laughs] Freedom is a great thing, freedom.”

When he met his wife Olena [episode 1]

“One of the most beautiful moments of my life was when I met my wife. I just looked at her and I think I just loved her. I saw her at school.”

On Putin’s psychology: [episode 2]

“Putin, I think he is not alone. I think there are some – some similar types in the world, but not everyone has such a chance for themselves. To reveal all their negative or bad dreams. Yes. That is the problem, that the West did not recognize him earlier and did not stop him.”

About his career as a comedian and then as president: [episode 3]

“I brought this time to this job, this communication with people, because you have to try. I really loved people because I communicated with them. And if you don't love, you get tired…”

About decisions that are likely to lead to the death of men and women [episode 3]

“This is the most difficult, the greatest difficulty in my life. Because when I – when you – make such decisions, it is always difficult for me. I have many questions for myself. And there are some questions to which I have not yet received answers. All these questions concern life. I have seen this – I remember many of these people. I have seen many parents, many of them. I have given orders, gold stars for the heroic death of these – the children or their husbands and wives, and this – this is a great, great challenge for me, I think the greatest.”

Olena Zelenska, important quotes

[transcribed and translated to English]

To vote [episode 1]

“I never said it out loud, I had a faint hope that he wouldn't win. But he won… he always does.”

Leaving Kiev [episode 3]

They told me to come to the president's office. I took my children and came. I never wanted to put him in a situation where he would have to choose between the safety of his family and making the right decisions for the state. It was very dangerous, so we left Kyiv. We weren't sure if we would ever see him again.”

About the war [episode 3]

I could only watch the news if I had access to television. He was tired… focused and constantly stressed. Every day I tried to keep smiling… telling the children, “It's OK.” “He'll be OK, he knows what he's doing.”

Boris Johnson, important quotes

About the Invasion [episode 2]

“I woke up very early on the morning of the 24th and spoke to Volodymyr. It was a kind of surreal conversation. He describes the invasion, where it is taking place and its scale. It seemed massive.”

At this point I think: “We need to get Volodymyr Zelensky to a safe place where he can go into some kind of internal or external exile and organize a resistance.”

About his leadership [episode 3]

“Coming from comedy TV shows that everyone can identify with, he has struck a chord with the world public in a way that no other Ukrainian leader has managed.”

Contributors

• Volodymyr Zelensky – President of Ukraine
• Olena Zelenska – First Lady of Ukraine
• Luke Harding – foreign correspondent, The Guardian
• Ben Wallace – British Secretary of State for Defence 2019–23
• Oleksandr Pikalov – Zelensky's childhood friend and employee of the comedy troupe “Kvartal 95”
• Vadim Pereverzev – Zelensky's childhood friend and employee of the comedy troupe “Kvartal 95”
• Olena Kravets – Zelensky's childhood friend and employee of the comedy troupe “Kvartal 95”
• Nancy Pelosi – Speaker of the US House of Representatives 2019–23
• Amanda Sloat – Special Advisor to President Biden
• Dmytro Kuleba – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
• Alexander Rodnyansky – Ukrainian TV mogul and Zelensky's mentor as an actor
• Sir Roderic Lyne – British Ambassador to Russia 2000 – 04
• Boris Johnson – Former Prime Minister of Great Britain 2019 – 23
• Oleksiy Danilov – National Security Advisor of Ukraine, 2019 – 24
• Yuri Kostiuk – screenwriter, “Servant of the People” at Kvartal-95
• Davyd Arakhamia – Chairman of Zelensky's ruling party and chief negotiator with Russia at the beginning of the war
• Andriy Yermak – Head of the President's Office
• Aleksey Kiryushchenko – director, “Servant of the People”
• Iuliia Mendel – Zelensky's press spokeswoman 2019 – 21
• Kurt Volker – US Special Envoy for the Ukraine Negotiations, 2017–19
• Ruslan Stefanchuk – Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament
• Mykhailo Podolyak – Advisor to the President of Ukraine
• Simon Shuster – Foreign Correspondent, TIME Magazine