Vasyl Petrovych Holoborodko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is a high school history teacher whose fiery outburst against systemic government corruption goes viral, instantly thrusting him into the national spotlight. When the dust settles, his students organize a crowdfunding campaign that propels him toward Ukraine’s presidential election, and against all expectations, he secures a surprising victory.
As the new president, Holoborodko is quickly confronted with the hard realities of political power. He rejects the pomp and privilege that normally accompany the office, choosing instead to live modestly and to travel by public transport. He assembles a small, initially skeptical but slowly loyal team to push reform forward, surrounding himself with people who are willing to challenge the status quo.
Among his closest associates, Tolya, Heorhii Povolotskyi, and Sergey Mukhin, Yevhen Koshovyi, help navigate the rough waters of reform. Holoborodko’s administration also includes Anna Mikhaylovna, Anastasia Chepeliuk, an efficient assistant to the president, who keeps the gears turning behind the scenes. The presidency becomes a proving ground for integrity: he dismisses bodyguards, refuses bribes, and pushes back when his family tries to bend the office for personal gain.
The fight against entrenched corruption intensifies when he exposes a corrupt prime minister by laying bare a black ledger of insider transactions during a televised debate. The moment marks a public, turning-point victory for his anti-corruption agenda, even as the pressure from powerful interests intensifies. Throughout the journey, dream sequences and visions of historical figures—named or not—offer alien yet guiding perspectives that shape his decisions and give the audience a sense of how far he strays from conventional politics.
As the story expands beyond a single arc, the ensemble narrative broadens to show Holoborodko and his cabinet facing bureaucratic resistance while pursuing external support and financial stability. The show explores how he negotiates with international institutions, including IMF backing, and how his team works to pass legislation aimed at curbing corruption and reshaping governance.
Key players in the administration appear in pivotal moments: Costas Paragonis, Mikhail Politseymako, stands as a seasoned figure within the circle, bringing a blend of experience and perspective to the reform effort. Yuriy Ivanovich Chuyko, Stanislav Boklan, contributes as a steady, sometimes thorny voice in cabinet discussions, while Oksana Skovoroda, Olga Kiyashko, enters as part of the broader political machinery that ties together various strands of policy and advocacy. The administration also features other notable figures—each with their own ambitions and challenges—that collectively propel Holoborodko’s mission to redefine governance in a system long marked by corruption.
Throughout, the central thread remains clear: a humble leader using an extraordinary ascent to confront corruption, dismantle entrenched interests, and test the limits of political reform in pursuit of a more transparent and accountable presidency. With every challenge, Holoborodko’s resolve is tested, and his vision of public service—steadily, stubbornly, and sometimes bravely unconventional—keeps shaping the national conversation.
