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00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,680
Do you have any gadgets
with President Zelensky?
2
00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:05,920
- Yes.
- What is this?
3
00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,920
I scan Zelensky's picture...
And...
4
00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,000
You hear the song from the TV serial
"Servant of the People".
5
00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,400
It was Vasyl Holoborodko,
the serial character played by Zelensky
6
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,480
that actually won the Elections.
7
00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:31,440
People wanted radical changes like in the
movie, and that's why they voted for him.
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00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,720
Millions of people could see him
on TV every week,
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00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:41,480
and was treated like a guy
living next door.
10
00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:52,160
When Zelensky was elected president
it took me quite a while to believe it.
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00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,120
I thought he'd say at the last moment,
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00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,840
"Sorry, friends. Forgive me.
I wound you up."
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00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:16,640
SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE
14
00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,920
You want us to tell all that story,
right? OK.
15
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,680
That's how Volodymyr Zelensky looked
in the early 2000s
16
00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,000
when he was drumming up
his show business.
17
00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,120
From the very start, his "Kvartal 95"
was the highest-rated show on TV.
18
00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,760
Just like his other movies
and TV programs.
19
00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,200
Zelensky soon became famous,
loved and admired
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00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,480
because he was successful
in every single thing he did.
21
00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:46,440
Just like in "Dancing with the Stars"
in 2006.
22
00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,040
And the winner is...
pair number 5!
23
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:06,080
Zelensky is an incredibly efficient
businessman, who created his own image.
24
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,440
And he is known throughout
the entire post-Soviet territory.
25
00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,480
Roman Romaniuk works
for the newspaper "Ukrainska Pravda".
26
00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,880
He writes about Volodymyr Zelensky.
27
00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:20,560
He got accustomed to the fact
that he was associated with success.
28
00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,640
So, he thought to himself,
"Why not take advantage of that?"
29
00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:30,640
But I don't think he was fully aware
of the changes he would have to face.
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00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:36,040
It was an event with no precedent
anywhere else in Eastern Europe.
31
00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:38,920
In 2019, a celebrity, actor, comedian
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00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,160
and a film producer
became the president of Ukraine.
33
00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:46,200
Volodymyr Zelensky got over 73%
of all votes.
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00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,920
Millions of Ukrainians liked the role
of a teacher he played in the TV serial.
35
00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,560
A teacher who by chance became the
president. An ideal president at that.
36
00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:03,600
One who serves ordinary people
and fights with corrupted dignitaries.
37
00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:11,640
Zelensky built his political capital
on merciless mockery
38
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:18,280
of almost all Ukrainian politicians.
39
00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,920
Jewhen Mahda
is a leading political scientist
40
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,240
and the author of a book
about the presidents of Ukraine.
41
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,280
Many politicians, including Poroshenko,
would go to the "Kvartal 95"
42
00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,440
no matter how bitterly
they were criticized there.
43
00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:36,560
What about the economy?
44
00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:38,400
We are in deep shit...
45
00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,320
Hush! Don't say it.
Let it be a surprise for everybody.
46
00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,960
Come down for the rehearsal. Quick.
How long shall we wait?
47
00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:56,040
Coming!
48
00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:03,480
Roman Vintoniv is an actor and comedian.
He has his channel on the Internet.
49
00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,680
He puts down the politicians' bloopers
in no uncertain terms.
50
00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:11,320
Just the way Volodymyr Zelensky, now
himself an object of ridicule used to do.
51
00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:18,279
At first Zelensky used to joke a lot
when he would talk with people.
52
00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:21,120
- After he became the president?
- Yes.
53
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,680
At first he would think to himself,
"What? I won't make it as the president?"
54
00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,640
"After all, I'm a TV producer and I've
seen more than my share of bad beef."
55
00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:34,600
But in time he realized
that the slightest mistake on Instagram,
56
00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,480
or some note he puts on Facebook
or wherever,
57
00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:44,080
like mistaking Lithuania and Latvia
is a very serious matter.
58
00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:45,960
- Romek!
- Coming!
59
00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:50,120
Roman's show is broadcast
on so-called TV Toronto.
60
00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,560
He appears as Michael Rat,
61
00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,760
the correspondent
of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
62
00:04:55,840 --> 00:04:58,480
Long story short, it's not him.
Just in case.
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00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:00,480
- Are you ready?
- Yes.
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00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:01,680
So, let's start it.
65
00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,880
(You're watching "โช@)hryvna? 0".
I'm Michael Rat.
66
00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,560
- All right?
- Again.
67
00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,640
In the control room they say
it was not energetic enough.
68
00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,400
I'll show you the energy, Lena.
69
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,440
You'd better watch out.
They may think you're drunk.
70
00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:20,200
Three, two, one...
71
00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,280
Look at the excerpts from previous shows.
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00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:25,440
- Indoor cycling.
- A national one.
73
00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:32,800
Volodymyr Zelensky made cycling the
main symbol of his presidential power.
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00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:36,440
Good morning, Ukraine.
75
00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:41,360
It's a fitness video right from
Volodymyr Zelensky's Instagram.
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00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,760
Because during his first state visit
to Brussels
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00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:47,440
the president was sitting on an indoor
bike while giving his interview.
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00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,920
Zelensky will give his next
interview while zorbing.
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00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,480
The journalist will run in front
of the orb.
80
00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,200
And Zelensky's briefing
will look like this.
81
00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:00,880
And this is his next press conference.
82
00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:12,760
We found out how Volodymyr Zelensky is
going to free the soldiers taken captive
83
00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:15,400
and stop the Russian
aggression in Donbass
84
00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:17,680
within the Trilateral Contact Group.
85
00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:22,280
I keep my fingers crossed.
Hope we'll make it.
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00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:29,760
Zelensky will keep his fingers crossed
in order to end the war.
87
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:33,440
And he'll spit over his left shoulder
to make the economy thrive.
88
00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:39,320
Comedians have a powerful weapon
in their hands.
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00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,040
Now Zelensky's finding
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00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:48,520
how it is when someone mocks your words
because you said something wrong.
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00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,960
I think it's hard for him.
92
00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:54,200
But thanks to that
he started to mind his words more.
93
00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,840
It shows he's working hard to be
sterner and more serious.
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00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:04,040
To abandon his previous image
of a jester.
95
00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:09,000
It's a big problem because he got hostage
to his image as a comedian.
96
00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:10,720
That's true.
97
00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,360
Let's see an excerpt from a movie.
98
00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:15,680
- From "Servant of the People"?
- Yes.
99
00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,480
Because it helps to understand
why people voted for Zelensky.
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00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,200
You got shackled to your stools!
101
00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,080
You're wiping your sweat?
You're sweating and upset?
102
00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:27,520
I'm not the one you've been waiting for.
Huh?
103
00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,480
I wish I could punch your mugs
with this stone baton.
104
00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,680
Here. The Minister of Health.
Want me to cure you, sir?
105
00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,920
And you, Minister of Education?
Are you OK?
106
00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,800
Where do your kids go to school?
Abroad? Right?
107
00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,640
What a nightmare!
Look at your fat mugs!
108
00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,160
But that's not the way Zelensky is
in the real world?
109
00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,400
Maybe not any longer, but at first, he
tried to act the way he did in the movie.
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00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:50,760
Have a look.
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00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,480
If you can't deal with the smuggling,
why don't you hand in your resignation?
112
00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:56,160
Can you fire them?
113
00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,320
Not without prior notice.
114
00:07:58,480 --> 00:08:02,120
I'm fed up with your bureaucracy
and your courtesy like,
115
00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,400
"Ladies and gentlemen please stand
for the President..."
116
00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,080
I'm interested in acts not words.
117
00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:14,280
It's not the problem that someone glued
himself to his chair and does nothing.
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00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,680
The real problem
is that we lack competent people.
119
00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:23,240
The problem is the lack of know-how,
lack of professionals, lack of ideas...
120
00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,080
Fear is also a problem.
121
00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,560
And the situation when
the system doesn't work
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00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,520
and everybody is doing their best
to preserve it
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00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,120
instead of inventing something new.
124
00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,799
So, shall we?
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00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,120
Zelensky surely knows how to present
himself as a man like everyone else.
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00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:47,960
But the president, first of all, has to
know how to solve difficult problems.
127
00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,640
And our relationships with Russia is
the most difficult problem of them all.
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00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,200
Because over 13.000 lives were lost
during the war in the east of Ukraine.
129
00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:00,840
Plus we lost Crimea
and a part of Donbass.
130
00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:06,120
I don't think Zelensky will ever be able
to return to "business as usual"
131
00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:11,560
in the relationship with Moscow
as it was before the war.
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00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:17,960
Meaning, that he could do his business
in both Ukraine and Russia.
133
00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,120
Donbass, in the east of Ukraine.
134
00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,920
Not far from here, there is the
self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic
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00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,120
created by the separatists
and supported by Russia.
136
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,720
The frontline divided families, friends
and the country.
137
00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:40,560
The closer to the border,
the more checkpoints,
138
00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:42,960
deserted villages
and destroyed houses.
139
00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,640
Whoever could, has left.
140
00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:59,480
You can say you live on the frontline.
141
00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:02,840
Yes. Because the troops are stationed
literally right next to my house.
142
00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,000
How does it feel to live
in a place like this?
143
00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,000
Only those who have a permanent stay
permit are allowed to enter the area.
144
00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,920
Life was not bad here when
the mines worked.
145
00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,000
And now? Donbass has been abandoned.
For good.
146
00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,640
- Were you a miner?
- Sure. Whole my life.
147
00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,840
So, at least you have a good pension.
148
00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:21,360
No...
149
00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:26,520
Who did folks vote here for? Zelensky?
150
00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,800
Who else could they vote for?
151
00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:33,800
A prompt end to the war in Donbass
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00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,760
was the main slogan of Zelensky's
presidential campaign.
153
00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:40,600
This is what he told journalists
as the candidate to the Office.
154
00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:47,400
The most important thing is
that we don't want the war.
155
00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,600
We didn't start the war,
156
00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,480
but if there is any chance to end it
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00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,040
we should do our best
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00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:01,680
to halt the killing of our people.
159
00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,720
In the neighboring town they distribute
buckwheat groats under the aid scheme.
160
00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,160
Town Zolote, in Lugan Oblast is situated
on the frontline.
161
00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,880
The war and poverty
made people here tired and irritated.
162
00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,200
The rolls over there are yours, auntie.
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00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,400
Those ones and these one.
164
00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:29,600
What gifts did they bring?
Is this to insulate the houses?
165
00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:32,280
- And does everybody can get it?
- Everybody.
166
00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,280
- Everybody who wants?
- I mean, every household.
167
00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:42,400
In October 2019, Zolote
was in the news not only in Ukraine.
168
00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,800
And it was all because of
the visit of President Zelensky.
169
00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,480
He came here right after Kiev
agreed to withdraw the army
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00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:50,200
from three places
along the frontline
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00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,040
including the one not far from here.
172
00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,840
His decision divided Ukrainians.
173
00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:57,200
Some saw the withdrawal of the army
as a betrayal and capitulation;
174
00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,360
others, like the citizens of Zolote,
saw hope for peace.
175
00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,040
How was it?
Where did you meet him?
176
00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,120
He was going from the club towards
the shop.
177
00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,960
On foot.
He was going on foot all the time.
178
00:12:17,560 --> 00:12:20,040
And he had no bulletproof vest.
179
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:24,240
We were even surprised because
the others would put on so much stuff
180
00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:25,960
and he looked just like us.
181
00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:28,480
We are just standing here
and suddenly he shows up.
182
00:12:28,560 --> 00:12:33,000
"It's impossible." I thought to myself.
But it really was Zelensky.
183
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,840
He was walking just like you and me.
184
00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:36,640
Did you see Zelensky too?
185
00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,440
He even shook her hand.
She didn't wash it afterwards.
186
00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:40,760
Tell us.
187
00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,480
I didn't wash my hand for two weeks
because the president shook it.
188
00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,200
Volodymyr Zelensky came to the town
late in the evening.
189
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,680
He spent the night in a simple house.
190
00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,520
Its owner had no idea
to who had rented the room.
191
00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:59,000
I can sleep at my neighbor's.
192
00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:05,760
No need. After all, it's your house.
193
00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,680
But we'll pay. The agreed price.
194
00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,480
- You didn't know who rented the room?
- I didn't.
195
00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:14,960
Meaning, our Intelligence works
discreetly. Thank God.
196
00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,960
And what do you need?
What do people lack here?
197
00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:21,600
Peace. We have enough of war.
198
00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,440
That's how it looks.
199
00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,040
Look, there is even a TV set
and a DVD player.
200
00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:34,680
It's all right.
201
00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,920
- Good morning.
- You're so young.
202
00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:44,880
Really.
203
00:13:45,040 --> 00:13:46,480
- Just a kid.
- A kid?
204
00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:48,440
- Yes.
- That's good.
205
00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,400
Mamma mia!
206
00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,560
- Do you bring good news?
- Only good news.
207
00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:55,920
Thank God.
208
00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,720
Pensions should be
five times higher.
209
00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,240
I said, good news,
not very good news.
210
00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:05,400
I understand you.
211
00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,720
- We want peace.
- I know.
212
00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,240
We're counting on you.
We want to sleep without fear.
213
00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:12,440
Will they withdraw
the army from here?
214
00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:14,200
- Is that what you want?
- Yes.
215
00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,720
He talked with anybody who wanted to.
He heard out everybody.
216
00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:24,440
There is a coal mine in our town
and majority of the citizens works there.
217
00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:28,720
- Now they pay the salary on time.
- Yes. Without any delay.
218
00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,080
Some time ago they wouldn't pay for six,
seven or eight months.
219
00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:35,720
When Zelensky came, he said
we'd get all overdue salaries,
220
00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,280
and we did.
Within two or three weeks.
221
00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:39,400
No. A bit later.
222
00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,600
All right. Within month.
But they paid it all.
223
00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:46,320
They give ten rolls for a house;
you and your son have twenty.
224
00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,920
Do I live with him?
Why the nerves?
225
00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:58,400
We took a poll after a year
of Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency.
226
00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,640
Andrij Byczenko is a sociologist.
227
00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:08,360
He works in the reputable
Razumkov Public Opinion Research Center.
228
00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:15,360
According to our poll, the largest
group of respondents, over 40%,
229
00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,800
thinks Zelensky did his best to improve
the people's living conditions,
230
00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,400
but the people in the president's
closest proximity
231
00:15:24,520 --> 00:15:27,200
and other officials don't do
their jobs well.
232
00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,280
So, he's not responsible.
233
00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:33,160
Yes, according to the classical Russian
way of thinking:
234
00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,520
the tsar is good,
only his men are bad.
235
00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,720
- Show us how you live.
- Come on in.
236
00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,960
This is my kitchen.
I'll make some coffee.
237
00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,560
Lena works in a miners' club.
238
00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,360
Her living conditions are typical
for the majority of Zolote's citizens.
239
00:16:02,040 --> 00:16:05,160
Bring the cups from the living room,
Tanya.
240
00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:07,920
Tatyana is a retired preschool teacher.
241
00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,200
And this is our living room.
242
00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,440
- I can see the TV set is constantly on.
- Yes.
243
00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,320
What TV stations do you watch?
244
00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,880
Well... Russian.
245
00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,240
They present the war in Donbass
in a totally different way.
246
00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:25,800
That's true.
247
00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:29,080
When I watch it,
I can see how many times they lie.
248
00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:34,280
The folks, who live in self-proclaimed
republics and can watch only Russian TV,
249
00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:35,640
don't know the truth.
250
00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:37,000
Of course they don't.
251
00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:41,800
We don't understand their politics but
we have got in touch with them somehow.
252
00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,920
Tanya's mother and my grandmother
live there.
253
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,680
Should we not talk with them?
254
00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:48,760
- And you do?
- Sure we do.
255
00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,000
- On the phone?
- On Skype and on the phone.
256
00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:54,080
What's the situation there?
257
00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,880
The pensioners can't complain.
258
00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:03,080
They get their money from here
and from there.
259
00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,280
But they won't make it
without their Ukrainian pension?
260
00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,119
Of course. And it's definitely
not a place for young people.
261
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,000
Let's get back to Zelensky.
262
00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,319
It's the "Servant
of the Nation" TV serial.
263
00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:19,160
While our county is plunged in poverty,
264
00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:24,720
you close the city center to whizz around
in your elegant limousines.
265
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,640
The price of any of them is enough
to pay
266
00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,080
for the surgery of some pensioner.
267
00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,760
That's a fact. Pensioners
in our country are poor.
268
00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,600
Did people have this movie in their minds
when they voted for Zelensky?
269
00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:42,680
Yes.
270
00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:46,480
Do you think he is the way
he is in the movie?
271
00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:51,280
But in the serial he plays a simple
teacher who becomes president.
272
00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:56,200
Zelensky himself, however, is
extremely well-off, hence the question:
273
00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,920
Does he understand the problems
of ordinary people?
274
00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,440
Why shouldn't he? Why?
275
00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:06,840
Did you evert think
why Zelensky wanted to be a president?
276
00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,200
After all, he was very successful,
quite popular...
277
00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,040
Frankly speaking I don't know why.
278
00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:16,600
You know, you can be left
with the suspicion that someone...
279
00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,120
- Wanted him to be the President?
- Exactly.
280
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:20,720
I mean: oligarchs.
281
00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:24,760
I'm running for the office
of the President of Ukraine.
282
00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,680
Volodymyr Zelensky announced
he was going to run
283
00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,640
for the office on 1+1 TV Channel.
284
00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,080
The same that broadcast
the serial "Servant of the Nation".
285
00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,680
It's a TV station that belongs
to an oligarch, Igor Kolomoysky.
286
00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,000
And Kolomoysky was conflicted
with Petro Poroshenko.
287
00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,160
I think Zelensky himself is a project,
288
00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:49,800
and the serial "Servant of the Nation"
was a part of that project.
289
00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,200
I think Zelensky's presidency
is the result
290
00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,600
of a deal of a group
of Ukrainian oligarchs
291
00:18:54,680 --> 00:19:01,400
who decided to get rid
of Petro Poroshenko.
292
00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,200
So far, we've suffered
so much that we really want some changes
293
00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,120
and we firmly believe in them.
294
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,400
At least recently there is a ceasefire
here and we don't hear gunshots.
295
00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,680
However some criticize the truce
296
00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:22,440
because they think you shouldn't make
any deals with the enemy.
297
00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:27,040
If those who say this have lived here
and gone through the things we have,
298
00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:30,120
a plane dropping bombs,
and you don't know where to run
299
00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:37,120
and just lay down on the ground,
they would support the ceasefire too.
300
00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,360
Did you see the talk Zelensky had
with the volunteers
301
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,520
who didn't want to withdraw
from the frontline?
302
00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:49,200
It was out of place. You can't
talk like that with the president.
303
00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:51,800
You should respect the president.
304
00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,160
But let's have some borsch.
305
00:19:58,880 --> 00:20:02,240
President Zelensky came to Zolote
with a difficult mission.
306
00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:04,800
He had to meet with
the nationalist volunteers
307
00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:08,240
who refused to obey an order
to withdraw from the frontline.
308
00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:12,280
Did you come to see the retreat
of the forces?
309
00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,920
I came to see what people think about it.
What they are saying.
310
00:20:16,920 --> 00:20:18,040
And what do they say?
311
00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,800
They say it's necessary
to withdraw the army.
312
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,480
And they said to us, it is not.
313
00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,440
Withdrawing the forces
from three parts of the front
314
00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:31,040
was the condition
for Zelensky-Putin meeting
315
00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:37,760
and resumption of peace talks
within the so-called Normandy Format.
316
00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:42,240
We know your promises. We know
you want demilitarization and so on...
317
00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:44,920
But we want to discuss
and formalize it,
318
00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,720
so that the situation we had with
Petro Poroshenko won't repeat itself.
319
00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,400
What? You want to formalize your
relationships with me?
320
00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,800
- To sign a memorandum.
- What? Me? With you?
321
00:20:54,880 --> 00:21:00,040
Not with me, but with all the people
involved who fight for Ukraine.
322
00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:04,120
What capitulation you're talking about?
I said: take the arms out of here.
323
00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:08,240
Listen to me. I'm the President
of the country.
324
00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:12,040
I'm 42.
And I'm not a looser.
325
00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:14,640
I told you:
get the weapons out of here.
326
00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:18,600
Zelensky's problem is that at first,
327
00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:23,680
he tried to desacralize
the authorities as much as he could.
328
00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:27,960
He tried to show that those in power
are not some exceptional folks,
329
00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:32,280
but ordinary people who live next door
whose aim is to serve the nation.
330
00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:33,920
When he came to power,
331
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,360
he realized that although
the president should serve the citizens,
332
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:45,240
the citizens have to show him respect
as the head of state.
333
00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:47,880
And it does not refer
to a particular person,
334
00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:50,960
it refers to the office of president,
the very institution.
335
00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:55,720
Otherwise,
the entire system will collapse.
336
00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:09,520
The frontline, with self-proclaimed
republics supported by Moscow,
337
00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:11,520
is more than 450 kilometers long.
338
00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,360
Kiev doesn't control
one third of the Donbass territory.
339
00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,000
Where are they? Over there?
340
00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:26,800
Yes. They are observing us.
Just like we're observing them.
341
00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,280
You can see them walking there.
342
00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:32,560
It used to be one town,
343
00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:35,600
now people behind the frontline
use Russian currency
344
00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:37,120
and have Russian passports
345
00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:42,560
because Moscow easily issues them to
the citizens of the separatist republics.
346
00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,160
And that's what Volodymyr Zelensky
said in July 2020.
347
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:53,160
We lost a part of our territory,
we lost a part of our population
348
00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:58,000
and unfortunately, we can't
bring the dead back to life.
349
00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:02,600
But we should regain all our territories.
350
00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,560
Regain our faith...
351
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,600
Our faith in truth and justice.
352
00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,040
So that the death of our heroes
who died for them wasn't in vain.
353
00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:36,160
- Did any of your friends get killed?
- Of course. For instance, my neighbor.
354
00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:40,440
- How old was he?
- Twenty-four.
355
00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:47,240
The brigade is stationed
at the abandoned house.
356
00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,000
Its owners left at the beginning
of the war
357
00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:52,800
when there was regular
fighting in the village.
358
00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,040
- These are the remains of normal life.
- Right...
359
00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,120
Looks it must have been
quite a well-off village once.
360
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:08,400
People used to live
and work here uneventfully.
361
00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:12,920
Today only those who have
nowhere to go remained.
362
00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:16,680
President Zelensky promised he would
end this war.
363
00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:21,200
At least he attempted
to solve the problem politically.
364
00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,120
Because the events of the recent years
clearly prove it
365
00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,160
that armed actions
bring no desirable results.
366
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,520
In one of his interviews before
the presidential elections Zelensky said:
367
00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:48,800
We have to sit with Putin at one table,
368
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,880
take the list of his demands
and the list of our demands,
369
00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,400
compare them and reach a consensus
somewhere halfway.
370
00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:01,880
But that's what you could do only
in the "Servant of the Nation" TV serial.
371
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,880
Because when you sit down in front
of the real Putin, you won't tell him:
372
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,400
Come on, man.
Let's meet somewhere halfway,
373
00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:13,240
because nobody knows
where the halfway exactly is.
374
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,480
Volodymyr Zelensky talked
with President Putin
375
00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:23,800
a couple of times during
his first months in office
376
00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,080
to fill up trenches like this one.
377
00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:31,280
Over the phone and face to face in Paris
during the Normandy contact group summit.
378
00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,440
But Kiev didn't gain control
over the self-proclaimed republics.
379
00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,200
Neither trenches,
nor borders disappeared.
380
00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:48,360
What's the situation?
381
00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:50,600
It's all right. Peace and quiet.
382
00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,440
What does the enemy do?
383
00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,840
They were going to the slag
heaps at night
384
00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,880
and bringing some boards from there.
385
00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:01,600
When the President came...
What's this? Please answer it.
386
00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:07,280
What's wrong?
387
00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:08,960
Nothing. Usual report.
388
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,880
Did the President meet you
when he would come to Donbass?
389
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,360
Not personally with me, but
he met the commander of our battalion.
390
00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:22,040
President gave him
the Bohdan Khmelnitsky Order.
391
00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:26,720
- Good morning.
- Good morning, Natasha.
392
00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:28,960
- How are you?
- Great.
393
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,000
What's going on? What are you doing?
394
00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:34,280
Nothing. Uneventful day.
395
00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:38,520
Nataliya is the brigade spokesperson
396
00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,280
and graduate of the Military University
of Land Forces.
397
00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:44,240
She comes from Lvov and she came
to the frontline
398
00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:45,920
with no trace of hesitation.
399
00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,760
I respect women who serve in the army,
not every man is even up to it.
400
00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,200
We were talking about
the president's visit here.
401
00:26:56,280 --> 00:26:58,360
Did you watch "Servant
of the Nation"?
402
00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,360
Of course we did.
403
00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:02,560
- All of you?
- Of course.
404
00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:08,160
What did you feel when you heard
Zelensky would run for office?
405
00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:12,760
Politics is not our cup of tea.
We don't want to talk about it.
406
00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:17,280
Our aim is to protect Ukraine from
the enemy and that's what we focus on.
407
00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:29,720
Is this a typical soldiers' dugout?
408
00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:30,960
Yes. It's a shelter.
409
00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,480
- Not too much room in here.
- That's true.
410
00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:36,600
Aim well.
411
00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,480
- What's your name?
- Sasha.
412
00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,600
- And you?
- Seriosha.
413
00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:45,200
What's the most difficult thing
in your everyday life here?
414
00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:46,880
Tell her.
415
00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:49,440
Sitting here idly.
416
00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:51,760
You're bored. You would like to fight.
417
00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,120
Yes. We wouldn't say no.
It was easier before.
418
00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:58,840
If you were carried away,
419
00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,600
you could fire a series from your machine
gun and you got as calm as a baby.
420
00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,640
Adrenaline boosts you better
than your morning coffee.
421
00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,280
- Have any of your relatives got killed?
- No.
422
00:28:10,360 --> 00:28:12,640
- Where are you from?
- From Kryvyi Rih.
423
00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:17,160
- The town where Zelensky was born!
- Yes.
424
00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:22,080
But I lost my interest in him the instant
he stopped playing in the movies.
425
00:28:30,720 --> 00:28:33,880
Kryvyi Rih. A big industrial center.
426
00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:37,040
A city of mines, iron ore and coal,
427
00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:38,760
quarries, steelworks,
428
00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,160
smoking chimneys
and pervasive rust-colored dust.
429
00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,000
Volodymyr Zelensky was born here in 1978,
430
00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:50,000
to a family of Russian speaking
white collar workers.
431
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,720
He went to school here and got
his M.A. in law,
432
00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,600
but he's never worked as a lawyer.
433
00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,480
He met the love of his life here. And he
started his career in show business here.
434
00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,240
Watch out.
Everything is fresh paint.
435
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,000
Valentina Ignatienko is the deputy
principal of the school.
436
00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:12,960
Volodymyr Zelensky used to attend.
437
00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,760
She was one of the first
who spotted his artistic talent.
438
00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,360
He came here when he was a small kid.
He was eight.
439
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,240
He was always interested in everything
and curious of everything.
440
00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,440
He wanted to know everything
and he had to be everywhere.
441
00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,240
When he was in fourth or fifth grade,
442
00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,640
we started a ballroom dance circle
in our school.
443
00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:45,560
Of course, he enrolled right away.
444
00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:48,480
When he was in eighth grade
445
00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:52,720
the literature teacher suggested
to her students,
446
00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,600
to stage some play.
447
00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,360
They picked up "Marriage" by Gogol.
448
00:30:04,480 --> 00:30:08,600
Zelensky played the chef
superintendent manager, Omelette.
449
00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,240
It's not the lead role, as you know,
450
00:30:12,320 --> 00:30:17,080
but he got most of the flowers after
the performance.
451
00:30:17,520 --> 00:30:21,200
He's always been
at the center of attention on stage.
452
00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,760
Volodia Zelensky used to study
in this classroom.
453
00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:36,840
Where did he sit?
454
00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:39,240
Somewhere here.
At the second or third desk.
455
00:30:39,320 --> 00:30:42,080
- Because he wasn't too tall?
- Yes. He wasn't.
456
00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:47,720
That's why he was always sitting
at one of the front desks.
457
00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:52,640
How did you react when you found out
he was going to run for the office?
458
00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:55,080
I won't deny I had many doubts
459
00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,320
if he was doing the right thing
and if it was something he really needed.
460
00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,240
And did you calm down in time,
or just the opposite?
461
00:31:02,800 --> 00:31:04,800
How could we calm down?
462
00:31:05,160 --> 00:31:08,400
We can see how many problems
he has to solve.
463
00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:11,880
The situation is very unstable.
464
00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:17,600
And on top of this we have
the Covid-19 pandemic,
465
00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:20,080
to make things worse.
466
00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,800
I think that if he had known
the difficulties he would face
467
00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:26,000
as a president,
468
00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:29,640
perhaps he wouldn't have done it.
469
00:31:29,760 --> 00:31:33,240
But I would like to stress that
we trusted him
470
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:38,200
when he announced he was going
to run for the office,
471
00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:40,040
and we still trust him.
472
00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:45,040
He's well educated and he got
an excellent upbringing at home.
473
00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,040
He has a comprehensive personality.
474
00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,800
How did the children react when
they found out
475
00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,800
a student from their
school became the president?
476
00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,520
The children suggested they create
the flash mob in front of the school.
477
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,240
- On this schoolyard?
- Yes.
478
00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:10,800
They decided to greet the graduate
of our school on his great victory.
479
00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:13,760
And together we prepared
a special dance routine.
480
00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:18,000
The most beautiful youth in the world.
We! We!
481
00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,480
Creative and active.
We! We!
482
00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:25,320
Invincible and fit.
We! We!
483
00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,840
And strong-willed
We! We!
484
00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:33,120
We greet the President of Ukraine!
485
00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:40,000
What is this?
486
00:32:40,840 --> 00:32:44,560
The book of grades
487
00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,120
from final exams.
488
00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:53,920
I'll show you now, what grades
our president got.
489
00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,400
- Which ones?
- Look. The ones here.
490
00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,640
Zelensky Volodymyr Oleksandrovych.
491
00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:04,600
He was a straight-A student.
492
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:06,560
Born on January 26, 1978.
493
00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:10,640
Remember to send him the best
wishes for his birthday.
494
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:17,680
Look. Almost all As.
With a few exceptions.
495
00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:19,920
Meaning?
496
00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:24,480
Ukrainian and physical education.
497
00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:33,160
The teacher of Ukrainian, Nataliya
Ivanovna still works at the school.
498
00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:35,680
She lives not far from the school,
499
00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:40,320
in one of many typical blocks of flats
built in Krivyi Rih in the Soviet times.
500
00:33:46,680 --> 00:33:50,040
- Good morning. May I?
- Of course.
501
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:54,480
Nataliya Ivanovna was Volodymyr
Zelensky's teacher for three years.
502
00:33:56,560 --> 00:34:00,400
The only B he got at his finals
was in Ukrainian language.
503
00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,000
And how does Zelensky
speak Ukrainian today?
504
00:34:05,240 --> 00:34:11,080
He speaks impeccable Ukrainian,
he has mastered the language.
505
00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:12,800
Perfectly?
506
00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:16,320
Yes. I must admit he speaks
perfect Ukrainian now.
507
00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:19,760
- Did you vote for him?
- No.
508
00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:24,400
My husband voted for Zelensky
and he tried to convince me as well.
509
00:34:24,480 --> 00:34:29,840
He's young and enterprising -he would say.
-and his staff seems excellent.
510
00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:33,520
And I would say to him:
511
00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:39,159
You must understand that one can work
as a clown, or he can just be a clown.
512
00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:43,440
And for me Zelensky has always
been just a clown.
513
00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,639
I didn't even watch his shows.
Maybe one or two at the very beginning.
514
00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:50,360
Why not?
What didn't you like in his jokes?
515
00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:52,679
- He would offend people.
- Who?
516
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:54,760
Ukrainian people.
517
00:34:55,199 --> 00:34:59,480
- How? Give me the example.
- All right.
518
00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:02,080
Putin sends his tanks against us,
519
00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:05,680
and in return we send our pretty girls
to Moscow.
520
00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:08,520
How can you say something like that?
521
00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:11,480
Actually, I even feel sorry for him.
522
00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:16,880
Because you think some don't treat him
as a serious politician?
523
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,080
Yes.
524
00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:22,200
He should change his staff completely.
Completely.
525
00:35:22,560 --> 00:35:26,800
But he's changed it a few times,
in a short time at that.
526
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,160
But he replaced bad guys
with even worse guys.
527
00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:31,880
But... Let's have some tea.
528
00:35:34,720 --> 00:35:37,840
Even during his first year in the office
529
00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:41,640
we could see two different
Presidents Zelenskys.
530
00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:46,040
The first President Zelensky
was actually Vasyl Holoborodko,
531
00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,000
a character from "Servant of the People"
532
00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:53,880
who rattled his sabre
and tried to make a revolution.
533
00:35:54,120 --> 00:35:59,080
People he chose then were mostly Western
oriented young men with sparkling eyes.
534
00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,560
But in time he replaced them
with old and experienced people.
535
00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:07,120
Half of them are Soviet
party apparatchiks,
536
00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:11,760
and the second half -with politicians
active in the times of Yanukovych.
537
00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:15,080
At first, Zelensky bet on experts,
538
00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,720
young people but often without
any political experience.
539
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:20,800
He only wanted them not to steal,
540
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:23,320
not to lie, not to give up
and think in a new way.
541
00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:25,200
Just as Andriy Bohdan declared,
542
00:36:25,280 --> 00:36:27,760
the lawyer of Ukrainian
oligarch Ihor Kolomoyskiy,
543
00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:30,880
and the first Head
of Presidential Administration.
544
00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:37,800
We came here with the concept of
reforming the presidential administration
545
00:36:37,880 --> 00:36:38,920
in a material sense,
546
00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:42,080
I mean: to change everything
that we can see around us here.
547
00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:44,160
What the others
didn't manage to steal.
548
00:36:44,240 --> 00:36:46,800
Yes, we want to haul off
all this gold and fringes.
549
00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:48,480
And make a mental reform,
550
00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:51,880
I mean: to transform the Soviet
style administration
551
00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:54,880
into a modern,
European style administration
552
00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:56,920
of the President of Ukraine.
553
00:36:57,800 --> 00:36:59,120
Kolomoyskiy protegee,
554
00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:03,240
Andriy Bohdan managed to remain
at his post less than nine months.
555
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:07,240
The experts' government of young
economist and lawyer Oleksiy Honcharuk
556
00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:11,120
survived even less -only six months.
557
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,600
If someone doesn't make it,
we'll get rid of him.
558
00:37:17,160 --> 00:37:20,600
Volodymyr Zelensky turned out
to be very impatient.
559
00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:23,040
He counted on prompt improvement
of the situation
560
00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:25,280
in the country as he
promised his electorate.
561
00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,600
But his "elevator" program,
562
00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:30,240
because it was meant to elevate
apolitical experts
563
00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,520
didn't bring prompt
results as he expected.
564
00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:36,800
And his substitute's bench
turned out very short.
565
00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:39,520
Here you are. Your order.
566
00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:44,160
I drove on the curb a bit,
but I don't think I destroyed it.
567
00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:47,840
- Is this for us?
- Yes. And your coffee.
568
00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:49,200
Here you are.
569
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:51,520
- It was nice to see you.
- It was nice to see you too.
570
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:54,400
- Visit us more often.
- Good luck.
571
00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:58,280
And who's going to drive now?
572
00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:01,160
During his first year in the office,
573
00:38:01,240 --> 00:38:03,800
Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed
two Prime ministers
574
00:38:03,880 --> 00:38:07,000
and the experts who were the ministers
575
00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:11,080
were substituted by politicians
with a longtime experience.
576
00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:16,760
It shows that Zelensky's team was
not prepared to run a marathon,
577
00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,560
it consisted of short distance
runners only.
578
00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:24,680
After a few months, mostly the folks with
whom Zelensky started his career on stage
579
00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:26,640
remained at his side.
580
00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:30,080
Especially his collaborators
from Kvartal 95 cabaret,
581
00:38:30,160 --> 00:38:32,000
that he founded in Kryvyi Rih.
582
00:38:40,440 --> 00:38:44,600
Some time ago you could often meet the
future President Volodymyr Zelensky here.
583
00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:45,680
Where?
584
00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,640
At the staircase, near the corner.
585
00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:50,960
Because it's where Lena,
his wife lived.
586
00:38:51,240 --> 00:38:53,080
He would come here every day
587
00:38:53,160 --> 00:38:57,240
and wait till his future wife goes out
for a walk with her dog.
588
00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,560
And I could reach my flat
at the next staircase
589
00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:03,720
and the future president
would often visit me.
590
00:39:04,120 --> 00:39:05,120
Come on in.
591
00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:11,600
Andreyi Zaslavsky
is Volodymyr Zelensky's classmate.
592
00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,080
Today he works as a technical controller
of city trolleybuses
593
00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,120
and a journalist of the local paper.
594
00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:20,120
Do all staircases in these houses
look the same?
595
00:39:20,200 --> 00:39:23,200
More or less. But this one is
eight stories high,
596
00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:25,760
and the one where
Zelensky lived-eleven.
597
00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:30,120
Volodymyr Zelensky lived in the huge
block of flats on the main street.
598
00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,520
His parents belonged to the city elite.
599
00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:36,520
His father worked as a professor
of cybernetics at the university,
600
00:39:36,600 --> 00:39:38,240
his mother was an engineer.
601
00:39:38,440 --> 00:39:42,120
The apartment looks exactly
the same as it looked in the 90's
602
00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:45,000
when Zelensky used to call on me.
603
00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:50,960
Our class was exceptional because
we had an extensive course in English.
604
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:54,760
I'll always remember when Volodia and I
would come back from the theater
605
00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:57,280
and the streetcar broke down.
606
00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:03,360
We walked through the night city
and finally, we made a terminus.
607
00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:07,080
We got on the last car.
There was nobody else in it.
608
00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:12,880
And we started singing together
to kill the time.
609
00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:19,040
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed
so far away...
610
00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:22,480
And do you remember the song
from "Servant of the Nation"?
611
00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:24,760
I love my country,
612
00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:26,880
I love my wife,
613
00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:30,040
I love my dog...
614
00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:35,800
When I saw the movie, I wanted that story
to happen in real life.
615
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,760
I would like to award each of you
with a personalized watch.
616
00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,480
Excuse me. But the watch was supposed
to be personalized
617
00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:49,040
and mine has the name "Mikhail"
engraved on it. And I'm Sergei.
618
00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:51,680
I have a wrong name on mine too.
619
00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:53,800
And there is a female name on mine.
620
00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:57,480
Did I say there would be your names
on these watches?
621
00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:01,560
No. There are the names of other people.
622
00:41:02,040 --> 00:41:03,040
Meaning?
623
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:04,800
Don't you remember?
624
00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:06,160
And should I?
625
00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:08,280
You are obliged to.
626
00:41:09,880 --> 00:41:13,680
There are names of the people
who got killed at Euromaidan.
627
00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:19,000
At first, many people accused Zelensky
of being too pro-Russian.
628
00:41:19,240 --> 00:41:23,040
Of course, he isn't. After all, he
stands up for the interests of Ukraine.
629
00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:27,680
He clearly calls Crimea and Donbass our
land, and he calls Russia an aggressor.
630
00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:32,640
He continues what he used to say
before he became president.
631
00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:36,440
When they accuse him of pro-Russian
politics, they are wrong.
632
00:41:36,680 --> 00:41:41,040
It's probably because he comes from
the Russian speaking part of the country.
633
00:41:41,320 --> 00:41:45,680
And also, because he used to make money
in Russia.
634
00:41:46,080 --> 00:41:49,720
He was emotionally and financially
linked with Russia.
635
00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:55,400
Yes, but look what movies he produced
in Russia. Only love stories.
636
00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:01,760
In his company Kvartal 95, Volodymyr
Zelensky produced hundreds of TV shows,
637
00:42:01,920 --> 00:42:03,840
and over 30 movies and TV serials.
638
00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:08,240
All of them were cash cows and
had millions of viewers on the Internet.
639
00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,160
Zelensky was a kind of candidate
640
00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:23,920
that everybody could imagine
any way they wanted.
641
00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,720
Be it a positive or negative way.
642
00:42:28,160 --> 00:42:32,600
Because he and his team
were like a very capacious container.
643
00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:37,040
Thanks to that Zelensky gained full power
in the country;
644
00:42:37,160 --> 00:42:39,360
he was elected president
645
00:42:39,440 --> 00:42:42,440
and the party he created,
646
00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:46,680
"Servant of the People",
won the parliamentary elections.
647
00:42:47,680 --> 00:42:53,960
In 2019, Zelensky's party got 43%
of votes in the parliamentary elections.
648
00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:58,640
It was an exceptional mandate of trust.
But the happiness didn't last long.
649
00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:02,800
After a year the support for Zelensky
himself didn't diminish too much.
650
00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,440
The support for his party -significantly.
651
00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:09,040
Because a political party can't embrace
at the same time both:
652
00:43:09,120 --> 00:43:10,280
radically pro-Western
653
00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:13,200
and radically pro-Russian
and pro-Soviet politicians.
654
00:43:13,280 --> 00:43:17,960
Such a party simply can't exist.
655
00:43:18,840 --> 00:43:22,360
This is called Uber of the President.
656
00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:25,400
The Supreme Council of Ukraine
is ahead of us.
657
00:43:25,760 --> 00:43:28,200
"Servant of the Nation"
is a people's party.
658
00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:30,840
Not president's party,
but a people's party.
659
00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:33,520
There's never been such
a party here before,
660
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:35,720
our 254 deputies are various people.
661
00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:40,080
Some of them know the law
and have experience,
662
00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,040
for instance: economists with a lot
of practice or lawyers.
663
00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:49,000
But there are also simple people; farmers
or mid-staffers in some companies.
664
00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:55,280
And they, forgive the expression,
need a long warmup.
665
00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:57,360
- Should I turn right?
- Yes.
666
00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:02,920
Let's roll.
667
00:44:03,160 --> 00:44:04,440
The "Servant of the Nation"
668
00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:07,360
party based on the personal popularity
of Volodymyr Zelensky.
669
00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,200
It was formed in haste.
Among party members recruited at random
670
00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:13,840
there were many total
political amateurs
671
00:44:13,920 --> 00:44:17,120
who inundated the Internet
with enthusiastic videos.
672
00:44:19,840 --> 00:44:25,960
Every morning, the deputies jog to stay
fit, vote wisely and pass good bills.
673
00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:29,200
In 2029, all TV stations showed
674
00:44:29,280 --> 00:44:33,440
how the rookies were instantly instructed
to work as member of parliament.
675
00:44:33,600 --> 00:44:39,680
A week long course was organized for them
in the Carpathian spa town Truskavets.
676
00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:43,280
The future deputies were taught economy
and politics
677
00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:45,680
in a five-star hotel from
dawn to dusk.
678
00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:49,120
The course was supervised
by the president himself.
679
00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:51,240
Here is one of the news footages.
680
00:44:52,440 --> 00:44:55,200
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the hotel
681
00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:57,760
where 250 newly elected deputies
have been taking part
682
00:44:57,840 --> 00:44:59,400
in a special course
for a week now.
683
00:44:59,480 --> 00:45:02,040
They call themselves the "Zelensky team".
684
00:45:02,280 --> 00:45:05,040
Zelensky's team didn't stand
the test of time.
685
00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:09,920
Unanimity and voting discipline
lasted only for two weeks.
686
00:45:11,360 --> 00:45:12,760
The party fell apart because
687
00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:15,760
from the outset it was a cluster
of contradictory interests.
688
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:19,680
Its members wanted diverse things.
689
00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:23,800
The "Servant of the Nation"
party lacked discipline
690
00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:25,640
and common vision of the state.
691
00:45:26,360 --> 00:45:30,440
Its deputies even had different attitudes
toward the Euromaidan revolution.
692
00:45:30,520 --> 00:45:34,520
After a year, the support for the party
dropped by more than half.
693
00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:41,280
Ukraine faces problems
with its state institutions,
694
00:45:41,480 --> 00:45:43,160
the problem of corruption,
695
00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:45,960
problems with the judicial system,
696
00:45:46,360 --> 00:45:49,480
and inefficiency of running the state.
697
00:45:49,920 --> 00:45:54,840
Let alone the economic crisis amplified
by the Covid-19 pandemic.
698
00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:14,280
I think Zelensky wasn't aware
of the problems he would have to face.
699
00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:17,960
Just after a year of serving office
he looked as tired
700
00:46:18,040 --> 00:46:19,960
as Poroshenko did
after five years.
701
00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:23,200
- And what did he succeed in?
- That's an interesting question.
702
00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:28,200
At a certain stage he managed to initiate
the peace process in Donbass.
703
00:46:29,480 --> 00:46:36,120
For instance,
the prisoner exchange took place.
704
00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:55,360
You'll always be in our hearts.
705
00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:06,880
Anastasia Muhina and Aleksey Sesonovich
were among the few dozens of people
706
00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:11,360
who came back to Ukraine as part of the
prisoner exchange with Russia in 2019.
707
00:47:11,560 --> 00:47:15,480
They were released at the same time
as the famous filmmaker Oleg Sentsov.
708
00:47:15,800 --> 00:47:17,440
They both come from Donbass.
709
00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:23,560
Do you think Zelensky will manage
to convince the citizens
710
00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,560
-of the self-proclaimed republics to
Ukraine? -No.
711
00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:28,040
Why not?
712
00:47:28,280 --> 00:47:32,480
I was there, and I saw them bring
up their children
713
00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:37,520
in hate to everything
that's Ukrainian.
714
00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:48,200
Excuse me, do you have any souvenirs
with an image of Zelensky.
715
00:47:48,480 --> 00:47:51,520
- All sold out.
- Really? And what were they?
716
00:47:51,720 --> 00:47:52,960
Matryoshka dolls.
717
00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:54,680
With Zelensky's picture?
718
00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:58,760
There was Zelensky on the outermost doll,
and very sad Poroshenko inside him.
719
00:47:58,840 --> 00:48:02,920
Whenever Poroshenko would come here, he
was always surrounded by many bodyguards.
720
00:48:03,000 --> 00:48:06,640
Do you know how much that cost?
721
00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,360
Doesn't Zelensky have
so many bodyguards?
722
00:48:09,440 --> 00:48:11,840
No. He would pass by me
and I could see.
723
00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:14,040
- Did you?
- Sure.
724
00:48:14,280 --> 00:48:18,240
Of course, Zelensky has his bodyguards
too. But there are not so many of them.
725
00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:21,600
Poroshenko was afraid of everything.
726
00:48:26,480 --> 00:48:29,200
Is Zelensky a politician
of a new format?
727
00:48:29,280 --> 00:48:30,720
In general, yes.
728
00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:35,520
The question is to what extent
it worked in Ukraine.
729
00:48:35,880 --> 00:48:38,440
If the state mechanism works properly,
730
00:48:38,560 --> 00:48:40,920
a creative leader from outside
the system
731
00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:44,120
can be a very refreshing
factor that heals the system.
732
00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:47,200
He can give a new impulse
for development.
733
00:48:47,400 --> 00:48:50,000
However it's very hard to do in Ukraine
734
00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:55,920
because the institutions and the
structures of power
735
00:48:56,000 --> 00:48:58,360
are extremely wobbly.
736
00:48:58,720 --> 00:49:03,000
Is it too early for Ukraine to have
a president from outside the system?
737
00:49:03,080 --> 00:49:05,640
Zelensky was very interesting
and promising
738
00:49:05,720 --> 00:49:07,600
as the chance for something new.
739
00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:13,160
But he lacked a group
of strategic advisers.
740
00:49:15,040 --> 00:49:19,320
I think many European politicians
carefully watched the TV serial.
741
00:49:19,400 --> 00:49:21,320
"Servant of the Nation".
742
00:49:21,640 --> 00:49:28,640
I pry into everything, have superman's
voice, but I'm not looking for trouble.
743
00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:38,080
Today everybody knows my fate sentences
me to be the servant of the nation.
744
00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:50,560
Maybe when I'm 60 and I read some book
and think, "God what was I dealing with?"
61673
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