TIME’s 2022 Person of the Year revealed as Volodymyr Zelensky & ‘the spirit of Ukraine’ after Elon Musk named a finalist
VOLODYMYR Zelensky and "the spirit of Ukraine" have been named TIME's 2022 Person of the Year.
The Ukrainian president and his people are being recognized for their bravery amid the Russian invasion.
It comes after Time released a list of finalists for the person who has had the most influence on the news during the past year.
This year's list of finalists for the honor included Tesla boss Elon Musk, Chinese President Xi Jinping and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Zelensky, 44, has been president since 2019, following a successful career as a comedian.
TIME journalist Simon Shuster wrote: “Zelensky’s success as a wartime leader has relied on the fact that courage is contagious.
"It spread through Ukraine’s political leadership in the first days of the invasion, as everyone realized the President had stuck around."
Zelensky became a hero around the world after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February and he chose to stay in Kyiv.
As the U.S. offered to get him out of the country, Zelensky allegedly said: “The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” according to the Ukrainian embassy of Britain.
Since then, the Ukrainian leader has continued to support his forces at home, even traveling to the frontlines.
Musk was chosen as last year's TIME person of the year, and president Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received the honor in 2020.
Zelensky was interviewed for the magazine on a train ride to Kherson after the region was retaken from Russia last month.
“Nine months they’ve been under occupation, without light, without anything,” he said.
“As I see it, it’s my duty to go there and show them that Ukraine has returned, that it supports them.”