Page 9 - Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukrainian President and Unlikely Hero

ti c research in the distant Mongolian town of Erdenet, situated
thousands of miles to the east. The family endured four years of
frigid winter temperatures before moving back to Ukraine.
While in high school in Kryvyy Rih, Volodymyr met his future
wife, Olena Kiyashko. They dated on and off, and after graduat-
ing in 1995, both went on to attend the local Kryvyy Rih Eco-
nomic Institute. Olena majored in architecture but spent most of
her spare time writing screenplays and working with a campus
organization that promoted women’s rights.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr was studying law. However, he too
was drawn into other activities in his spare time, principally as-
pects of the theater and performing. He had long been fascinat-
ed by acting, especially playing comic roles and telling jokes. In
1995, while still a freshman at the institute, he formed a Saturday
Night Live–style group of comedic performers called Kvartal 95,
which translates into English as either “Quarter 95” or “Neighbor-
hood 95.” For two years the group improvised and rehearsed
comic sketches until Volodymyr felt they were ready to go public.
In 1997 he entered the group into the popular Ukrainian TV com-
petition called KVN, which stood for “Club of the Funny and In-
ventive People.” The show, which was broadcast in Ukraine and
several neighboring countries, had an audience in the millions.
Kvartal 95 was an instant hit and by public demand became a
regular attraction on the program until 2003.

Success in Stand-Up and Founding a Family
Zelenskyy graduated from the institute in 2000 with a law degree.
If he had been so inclined, he could have begun a career as an
attorney. But by that time he was hooked on the performing arts.
His comedy troupe performed fairly regularly, not only on televi-
sion but also in local stage shows around the country.
Also, thanks to the exposure he had received on KVN, tal-
ent agents contacted him fairly regularly. This enabled him to do
small roles in Ukrainian lms, as well as get gigs as a stand-up
comic. He performed his stand-up routine far and wide, including

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