Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday promised a “strong response” after gunmen opened fire on a car carrying his senior aide, in what officials said was retaliation for a push to rein in oligarchs. Shefir called the attempt on his life an attempt to “intimidate” the presidency. Zelensky — a former comedian with no previous political experience — won election in 2019 promising to reboot Ukraine’s political system and purge the influence of powerful oligarchs. Zelensky’s aide Shefir was born in the industrial central city of Kryvyi Rig and studied to be a metallurgist, but as a student began doing comedy for the popular KVN show with his brother, Boris. In 2003 he co-founded a production company called “Kvartal 95” with Boris and Zelensky, who was elected president in 2019.

Source: The Guardian September 22, 2021 12:56 UTC