Five years ago Zelensky officially became the president of Ukraine
Source: Bukvy
Five years ago, on May 20, 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky officially became the president of Ukraine.
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2018, Zelensky announced on the air of the 1+1 TV channel that he would run for the presidential elections.
On January 21, the Servant of the People party nominated Zelensky for the presidency, and on January 25, he submitted documents to the election commission. Soon, Zelensky presented his program.
In the second round of elections held on April 21, 2019, Zelensky defeated the then president Petro Poroshenko, gaining 73.22% of the vote against 24.45%.
Twelve TV channels broadcast the 2019 inauguration ceremony live. Volodymyr Zelenskyi assured in his speech that for the sake of peace in Donbas, he was ready to do anything, even to lose the chair of the head of state.
Zelensky’s first decision as president was to dissolve the parliament. Volodymyr Zelensky also called for the dismissal of the heads of the Security Service, the Ministry of Defense, and the Prosecutor’s General Office of Ukraine.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.