Lulworth Camp, England: Volodymyr Zelensky had only left his country once since the war began, meaning he hadn’t had many opportunities to meet Ukrainians who fled to Europe for safety when Russia invaded.
So when 35-year-old Natalia Goncharova got her first in-the-flesh glimpse of her president in a cold hangar at the Ludworth Camp in the English county of Dorset, she seized her opportunity.
BBC Ukraine journalist Nataliia GoncharovaCredit:Latika Bourke
“I would really like to hug you but I’m really not allowed,” she said, as she stood to ask her question on behalf of BBC Ukraine. Reporters were assembled for a press conference on Zelensky and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s visit to view Ukrainian troops being trained to command the Challenger tanks Britain is sending to the war effort.
Zelensky, the master of modern media, obliged. He left his lectern and strolled to the media pack, met her in the middle of the two bays of chairs where his entourage, journalists and numerous members of the military sat listening to his every word through the translation pack.
They embraced. “Security,” he said and laughed as he returned to the lectern.
“It was amazing,” Goncharova told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age a short time after the hug.
She said she knew Zelensky from her days working in video production in Ukraine and had watched his rise and transformation from television star to politician to war hero. But she doubted the leader recognised her when he decided to grant her wish.
Goncharova has been working for the BBC for one week. She came with her child as part of the Ukrainian sponsorship program that lets women and children live in the UK.
She said she voted for Zelensky when he ran for president and has not been surprised by his transformation into the globe’s rockstar politician.
“I saw how the previous president was running the country, we would die. If it wouldn’t be for him, the whole country would have collapsed,” she said.
“I knew him as a person, he is the kindest person ever.
“He cares about everything, he cares about people.
“I don’t know how he’s surviving because when he knows someone’s died he is probably dying inside.”
She said Zelensky’s empathy was why his critics had initially dismissed the comedian and actor as too weak to be a leader.
“He’s not a politician, but eventually he turned out to be the strongest person in the world,” she said.
Her dream was still to return home and resume her journalism there.
“I was dreaming to work there,” she said.
Her daring request appeared to have sparked a trend. The next Ukrainian journalist to ask a question said she would seek out the president after the news conference “because I would like a hug as well”.
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