“All Volodymyr’s close friends are extremely worried about him because he’s hiding in a bunker with no idea how to fight or use a weapon,” admits the Swedish producer of Zelensky’s hit TV series, Servant of the People, who speaks to the Ukrainian President most days via the President’s friends on the ground. He wouldn’t know what to do if he was confronted with an assassin. He’s not that kind of guy, and we’re curious about how he sleeps at night. Most days, I communicate with Zelensky through his friends.”

Söderlund reveals intimate details of the beleaguered, heroic President’s true reality as more than 400 hardened members of the Russian paramilitary organisation hunt him down, having worked closely together on his comedy show.

“I don’t know what he would do if a Chechen or Wagner assassin came for him,” he said. He has no idea how to use a firearm. His battle is with words. The bravery he’s shown in remaining there is incredible, and I often wonder if I would have done the same.”

Söderlund, the head of Stockholm’s TV agency, first met Zelensky six years ago. “He’s very likeable, charming, and open-minded, enormously energetic with lots of ideas all the time, and extremely impatient,” he said.

“When we were able to sell the series to Netflix, it was a huge breakthrough for Ukrainian productions, so he was overjoyed.”

“Volodymyr knows how to make people laugh in the midst of horror, which is a very uplifting skill.” He’s astute, quick, and amusing. Putin has no idea how to do what Zelensky can do.

“He’s not a traditional actor.” What he does as Servant of the People is admirable, but as President, he is outstanding. He used to be a lawyer, an educated man with intellectual depth.”

He stated that despite his inability to defend himself, Zelensky is not afraid.

“His incredible ability to communicate is strengthening him; he doesn’t need a gun,” he explained. “With his message, he is uniting Ukrainians and the rest of the world against Russia, which is hurting the Russians more than if he had a gun.” It will traumatise the Russian people for many years to come.

“He is today’s Winston Churchill, addressing the British and European parliaments, as well as the US Congress; it’s extraordinary.”

He added: “As long as I’ve known him he’s been a patriot, but when he became President he couldn’t even speak Ukrainian! He had to learn his first speech. His native tongue is Russian.”