For the past 29 years, Oleksandr Zelensky has been the head of the department of Cybernetics and Computing Hardware in Kryvyi Rih State University. The professor is the father of the current Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 46.
Aside from being the father of the president, he has worked for decades training scientists and that has earned his a place on the list of the best soviet specialists in his country.
In 2019, his son who was doing quite well as an actor and comedian, made history as the first Jewish President of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is the Sixth President Of Ukraine.
Facts You Might Not Know About Ukrainian President’s Father Oleksandr Zelensky
1. Oleksandr Zelensky Was Born in Kryvyi Rih
On December 23, 1947, the professor was born to Seymon Ivanovych Zelenskyy and his wife in Kryvyi Rih, Soviet Union.
While he was growing up, his father reportedly served in the red army’s 57th Gards Motor Rifle Division during the World War II. Based on several reports, Zelensky is of Jewish origin.
2. He is currently working at his alma-mater
After graduating from the Kryvyi Rih Mining Institute in 1972 with a degree in Mining Automation, Zelensky later a Candidate of Technical Sciences in 1983, the same year he defended his dissertation on Automation Calculation of Reserves of Iron Ore Deposits in the ACS Quarry at the Moscow Mining Institute.
In 1992, Zelensky was honored with the academic title of Associate Professor of Statistics, Economic Informatics, and Computer Science. This came after his work on his doctoral dissertation on Methodological Foundations of Surveying Planning and Accounting in the Information System of Ore Quarry Management in 2003. It was not long before he earned another academic title again (Professor of Informatics).
From 2005-2007, Zelensky has worked as the head of the International Economic Contract on Subject Development of an Automated System of Geological Surveying Support in the Operating System together with a joint Russian-Mongolian Enterprise.
He assumed the position of the head of the Department of Cybernetics and Computing Hardware at his alma mater, after almost 20 years of being away from his family.
3. Oleksandr Zelensky’s wife Is an Engineer
Before she was confronted with health challenges, Rimma Zelenska has worked almost all her life as an engineer. During an interview, the Ukrainian president mentioned that his mother’s health issues began while they were in Mongolia with his father, who was carrying out a research.
After spending part of his formative years in Mongolia, Volodymyr and his mother returned to Ukraine and that marked the end of her career as an engineer.
4. Oleksandr Zelensky Refused to Let His Son Study in Israel
At the age of sixteen, the professor’s son won a free education in Israel after he passed the TOEFL. Despite how eager he was to travel, the president was forbidden from traveling by his father.
He however later earned a law degree from the Kryvyi Rih Institute of Economics but has not worked in the legal field ever since.
5. His Son Started His Entertainment Career at the Age of 17
While he was still in college, Zelenskyy’s son joined a local competition team before he was later asked to join the United Ukrainian team. Oleksandr Zelensky later created the Kvartal 95 team and from 1998 to 2003, the group performed in the major league, and in 2003, he started producing TV shows together with the comedy group.
He went ahead to feature in several shows and television series before he became the star of the television series servant of the people where he acted as the president of Ukraine. He has worked in quite a number of Russian language production as well.
6. His Father Was Murdered in the Holocaust Alongside Three of His Brothers
During World War II, European Jews were murdered, and that included some of Zelenskyy’s family members. According to reports, his father, Semyon Ivanovich Zelenskyy, and his three brothers were murdered in the Holocaust.
In honor of those who fought and defended Ukraine from the Nazis, the Ukrainian president once shared on his social media handle how grateful they should all be to their heroes including his grandfather and those who died in the war. The Ukrainians celebrate their fallen heroes on Victory Day on May 9.
7. Oleksandr Zelensky’s Son Became the First Jewish President of Ukraine in 2019
After his production company registered as a new political party as Servant of the People, the Ukrainian president announced his intention to run for office. On April 21, 2019, he was elected as the president of Ukraine winning more than 73% of the votes while his opponent, Petro Poroshenko won by 25%. By winning the election, the former actor and comedian made history as the first Jewish president of Ukraine making Ukraine the second country to have both a Jewish President and Prime Minister.
However, Zelensky’s son became a wartime leader of his country during the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. During the invasion, three assassination attempts were reportedly made on the president.
For his bravery and astute leadership, he has been referred to as the Jewish defender of Ukrainian democracy by the Times of Israel. On March 7, 2022, Czech President Milos Zeman awarded him with the highest state honors, Order of the White Lion.
8. Oleksandr Zelensky’s son shares two children with his wife Olena
Volodymyr seems to be the only child of the professor and his wife. In September 2003, the younger Zelensky married his schoolmate and scriptwriter, Olena Kiyashko. They welcomed their first child and daughter Oleksandra in July 2004 and in January 2013, their son Kyrylo was born.
Despite the unrest going on in the country right now, the Ukrainian first family has shown love and support to each other. The president revealed during a press conference that he has not seen his family since the attack on Ukraine began in February 2022 he said they are in a safe location in Ukraine.
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9. Where Is He Now?
Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, nothing has been heard of Oleksandr Zelensky. However, his son once revealed both Zelenskyy and his wife had health challenges.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed his parents are important to him and have raised him with a painful worldview.
10. What Is His Net Worth?
The 76 year-old mathematician has made quite a number of achievements in his career in academics but has not revealed his exact earnings and income.
However, his son earns a monthly salary of 28,000 Hryvnias as the president of Ukraine. The 46 year-old president declared in 2018 that his assets were worth 37 million Hryvnias.
