A person seen in the frames where US President Joe Biden was seen with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on February 20, 2023, when he visited Ukraine for the first time after Russia’s invasion operation that started on February 24, 2022, was thought to be Zelenskiy’s double.
Zerohedge, known for bringing up unconventional claims, also shared the image with the claim that Zelenskiy’s stunt was accidentally displayed.
Some users from Turkey also made the same claim by sharing these images.
But this is not the truth! The person behind Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the footage is not his stunt double, but the bodyguard Maksym (Maxim) Donets.
It is known that some heads of state use people who are very similar to them in terms of body and face as stuntmen for security purposes.
Zelensky’s longtime bodyguard, Maksym Donets, unfortunately doesn’t look like Zelensky enough to be his stunt double.
It is seen that Maksym Donets started to carry an assault rifle, wearing camouflage and a steel vest, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine (although it is reported that he is a high-ranking officer, the details of which can not be accessed about his career).
Contrary to popular belief, there are many different photos in which Maksym Donets is displayed right behind Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy was elected President of Ukraine with approximately 73.2% of the votes in the second round held on April 21, 2019, attended by Zelenskiy and Poroshenko, who received the most votes, since no candidate could obtain an absolute majority in the first round election held on March 31, 2019.
Maksym Donets has been Zelenskiy’s bodyguard since the 2019 election process.
Maksym Donets can also be seen behind him while Zelensky is speaking to reporters during the Ukrainian presidential election campaign.
Zelenskiy’s close guard can be seen next to him as he celebrates his election victory.
