Honestly, if you’d asked someone ten years ago who would be leading Ukraine through its most brutal era, nobody would have guessed a comedian. But here we are in early 2026, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains the face of the nation. It's a weird, intense reality. He’s the guy who went from playing a president on a TV show called Servant of the People to actually living it—minus the laugh track and plus a lot of olive-green fleece.
A lot of people are asking: is he still the president? Short answer: Yes. But the "how" and "why" have become a bit more complicated lately.
Who is the Ukrainian President right now?
As of January 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is still the President of Ukraine. He’s the sixth person to hold the office since the country gained independence in 1991. You’ve probably seen him in those daily Telegram videos, usually looking like he hasn't slept in three days, giving updates on the front lines or shouting out the latest air defense wins.
His term technically should have ended in May 2024. Under normal circumstances, Ukrainians would have headed to the polls back then. But—and it's a huge "but"—Ukraine is under martial law.
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The Election Mystery: Why hasn't there been a vote?
Basically, the Ukrainian constitution and specific laws like the Electoral Code say you can't hold national elections while martial law is active. It makes sense if you think about it. How do you get five million refugees in Europe to vote? What about the soldiers in the trenches or the people in occupied territories?
There’s been a ton of pressure, though. Some folks in the U.S., including President Trump, have been pushing for a vote to "validate" the leadership. Zelenskyy himself has been kind of hot and cold on the idea. Just recently, he's been meeting with potential rivals—like the former commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi (who is currently the ambassador to the UK) and TV-host-turned-volunteer Serhiy Prytula. It looks like he’s testing the waters for a postwar political landscape.
From Comedy Stages to the Presidential Office
Zelenskyy’s backstory is still one of the wildest "truth is stranger than fiction" tales in modern history.
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- The Early Days: Born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a gritty industrial city. He grew up speaking Russian and actually has a law degree, though he never really used it for anything other than maybe reading contracts for his comedy troupe, Kvartal 95.
- The Actor Years: He was a massive star. Not just in Ukraine, but across the whole former Soviet Union. He even won the Ukrainian version of Dancing with the Stars.
- The "Servant": In 2015, he starred in a show where he played a high school history teacher who becomes president after a rant about corruption goes viral. The show was so popular that people started thinking, "Hey, why not actually do this?"
- The Landslide: In 2019, he ran for real and absolutely crushed the incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, with about 73% of the vote.
What he's dealing with in 2026
Life isn't just about the war anymore; it’s about keeping the lights on. Literally. Just this week, Zelenskyy had to declare a state of emergency in the energy sector. Russia has been hammering the power grid, and temperatures in Kyiv are hitting -20°C.
He’s also dealing with some internal drama. A massive corruption scandal at the end of 2025 led to the resignation of his right-hand man, Andriy Yermak. He replaced him with the military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, which was a move nobody saw coming. It’s a bit of a "circling the wagons" moment for the administration.
Key Facts about the Ukrainian President's Power
| Aspect | Current Status in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Legal Basis | Extended via Martial Law (17th extension recently) |
| Main Rival | Valerii Zaluzhnyi (though not officially campaigning) |
| Top Priority | Energy infrastructure and "Peace Plan" negotiations |
| Head of Office | Kyrylo Budanov (appointed Jan 2026) |
What most people get wrong about Zelenskyy
People often think he’s a "puppet" or just a "war leader." Honestly, the reality is much more "gray." Before the 2022 invasion, his approval ratings were actually sliding. People were frustrated that he hadn't ended the war in the East as quickly as he promised.
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The 2022 invasion changed everything. When the U.S. offered him a ride out of Kyiv and he said, "I need ammunition, not a ride," his legacy was basically sealed. But in 2026, the "Zelenskyy effect" is wearing a bit thin at home. People are tired. There’s a lot of debate about mobilization laws and how to actually end the fighting.
Actionable Insights: How to stay updated
If you're trying to keep track of what the Ukrainian President is doing without getting lost in propaganda, here's what you should do:
- Check the Official Website: The president.gov.ua site is actually updated daily with transcripts of his speeches. It’s the best way to see what the "official" line is.
- Follow Local Reporters: Look for journalists like those at The Kyiv Independent or Ukrainska Pravda. They aren't afraid to criticize the government, which gives you a balanced view.
- Watch the Energy Reports: Since the energy emergency was declared in mid-January 2026, the success or failure of the government will be measured by how many hours of power people have each day.
The situation is moving fast. With a 20-point peace blueprint currently being discussed with the U.S. and Russia, the next few months might finally decide whether Zelenskyy heads into an election or continues as a wartime leader indefinitely.
To get a better sense of the current ground reality, you can look into the recent energy infrastructure reports or the latest polling data from the Razumkov Centre, which tracks how much trust Ukrainians still have in the presidential office.