By Matthias Williams

LVIV Ukraine (Reuters). Immediately after Russian missiles fell upon Kyiv on Monday morning, Volodymyr Zeleskiy, Ukraine’s President, spoke to the nation with his preferred style: the selfie.

The man, who was unhavenly, dressed in a khaki coat and smiling, told the nation that, contrary to the reports of his trying to flee the country, he would not be leaving the capital.

Good morning, all Ukrainians. Online fake news has become so common lately that I have called on the army to stop spreading false information and call for an evacuation. Listen. Listen.

Zelenskiy stood in the early morning sunlight in front the House with Chimeras. This Art Nouveau landmark was covered with strange animal figures and is located across the road from the presidential office in Kyiv.

The 44-year old, who had never been a political actor or comedian before being elected president in 2019, has made a remarkable transformation. He was previously a comic and actor without any experience in politics.

Some Ukrainians on social networks feared Zelenskiy would lose against the veteran Russian President Vladimir Putin. As Moscow gathered troops at the border, it was ready to invade Ukraine.

He was criticised for making public swipes at America and other friendly countries when he didn’t feel they were being supportive enough.

However, Zelenskiy refused to leave Kyiv with Russian troops approaching. His calm presence on social media has earned him plaudits even from self-described skepticals.

“Whatever happens next, history will remember the simple physical courage Volodymyr Zelens’kyi displays in remaining in his capital, with his people, amidst a horrible invasion, knowing that he is its target,” Timothy Snyder, a history professor specialising in Ukraine at Yale said on Twitter (NYSE:).

Olena Hlushka was an activist with a well-known Ukrainian anticorruption group. He is a supreme commander that I can’t believe. “He is worthy of the great nation he represents.”

THE PRESIDENT STAYS

Zelenskiy is a prolific user of social media throughout his career in politics. Zelenskiy lobbied his opponents during the 2019 election campaign, snapping photos and videos in the gym as well as instructions for the nation.

His critics and rivals in politics have tried to call him a “clown”, unsuited for the highest office.

He was a buffoonish performer onstage, performing song and dance acts, and fell in a pool drunkenly after meeting the International Monetary Fund head.

He is now posting videos to try and give some reassurance.

He was seen in a selfie with his closest friends, and he showed them his chief of staff as well as his prime minister, his chief of staff, and his advisers that he had not yet left the capital.

Putin’s style is in complete contrast to his. Putin has maintained close contacts at long tables during meetings during the coronavirus epidemic.

The best-selling author “The Black Swan”, Nassim Taleb also compared Zelenskiy with images Putin used to project power in the past, such as images showing him naked on horseback.

“Putin on horseback, the poseur of amorality, is hiding from his bunker in remote, while Zelenski (the former comedian) is risking life and limb on the frontline.” he stated.

Zelenskiy, who spoke mostly in Ukrainian, switched to Russian when speaking to camera to address Russian citizens, exhorting them to get out on the streets against the war.

Vyachslav Volodin (speaker of Russia’s lower chamber of parliament) claimed that Zelenskiy fled to Lviv, and that his video appearances that he recorded were prerecorded.

On Saturday, there was fighting throughout the country. There were also clashes at the capital. Media reports have Zelenskiy declining foreign government offers to evacuate.

Zelenskiy’s spokesperson said, “The president remains in Kyiv. The president stays with his people.” Nobody will flee or give up weapons.