In the midst of war, President of Ukraine Vlodymyr Zelensky, has shown himself to be a true leader, fighting by the side of his people against Putin’s invasion.

On February 24th at around 5 A.M. local time, Russia launched their first attack against Ukraine, aiming missiles and air raids at the capital of the country, Kyiv, along with cities Kharkiv and Kherson. Since then, the city has been bombed and attacked endlessly by Russian troops.

The Kremlin has also placed a bounty of Zelensky’s head, ordering hundreds of Russian Mercenaries in Kyiv to assassinate the Ukrainian president. Along with that, The Wagner Group, a private Russian military believed to be owned by a close ally of Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, entered Ukraine through Belarus last January. The militias’ kill list includes 23 senior Ukranian figures, with President Zelensky at the top of the list.

But despite the apparent danger, the former comedian turned President has stood in his motherland, fighting by the side of Ukrainian’s fully volunteer army, reportedly turning down offers from the U.S. to be evacuated from the country, saying “I need ammunition, not a ride.” A tagline now associated with the new face of Ukraine.

The president has been uploading various videos of himself in Kyiv to social media, showing his people he’s still in Ukraine. In a recording uploaded February 25th, Zelensky reassured his people, “Our troops are here, citizens are here. All of us are here protecting our independence of our country. And it will continue to be this way. Glory to our defenders, Glory to Ukraine, Glory to Heroes.”

Before Zelensky took office on May 20th, 2019. The Ukranian president starred in the hit comedy series, Servant of the People. Zelensky played the role of a poor schoolteacher who accidently becomes president of Ukraine after a vulgar anti-corruption rant he made goes viral online. The TV series lives as a past prediction for the country’s future, with the country’s president taking office under the political party, “Servant of the People,” named after the T.V. series.

The role of a leader is to enact the wants of the people, to be someone who represents them and their desires. Zelensky’s continued will to fight shows him to be an exemplary leader a true representative of Ukraine and its never ending will. In the modern world, most leaders stay away from the battlefield, commanding from behind the lines of defense. But Zelensky’s willingness to sacrifice himself for his people while commendable, should be the standard for world leaders.

Zelensky now stands as a ray of light for Ukraine, living up to the title as a Servant of the People.