How have four years of war in Ukraine changed its two central figures?

Throughout 1,460 days of the Ukraine war, two figures have remained central.

The decisions made by Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, their leadership styles, and their standing on the international stage have shaped a conflict soon entering its fifth year.

But how have the war’s two central figures changed in the past four years?

Sky News has explored each leader’s domestic and global image, as well as how the conflict has shaped them personally, in this piece.

Follow live updates of the Ukraine war

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Mr Zelenskyy has undergone one of the most dramatic image transformations of any contemporary leader in the past four years, going from a relatively inexperienced president to a central symbol of resistance and democratic defiance.

While his background in acting made his rise to Ukraine’s highest office an unlikely one, Mr Zelenskyy fit the presidential mould in his early years, at least in appearance.

Often seen clean-shaven and suited, images of Ukraine’s leader from before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022 now make him appear boyish compared to the hardened wartime leader of 2026.

Mr Zelenskyy is now rarely spotted in anything other than military fatigues, something that famously irked Donald Trump when he hosted the Ukrainian president for a disastrous meeting at the White House last year.

Zelenskyy at home

Domestically, the 2022 invasion saw Mr Zelenskyy experience an initial surge in approval and trust as Ukrainians rallied behind their leader.

His decision to stay in Kyiv and lead from the capital, even after offers to evacuate for his own safety, became symbolic of Ukrainian resistance, enhancing his credibility and sense of purpose.

“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,” he reportedly told US officials as Russia’s 35-mile armoured convoy closed in on the capital.

From that moment on, Mr Zelenskyy has remained a central unifying figure in Ukraine, providing nightly video updates to inform and rally his people and making visits to frontline towns to inspire his troops.

Inevitably, as the conflict has progressed, economic strain, war fatigue, and high-profile political controversies (including protests over anti-corruption institutions and an investigation into large-scale bribery in the energy sector) have seen his domestic approval ratings decline slightly, though he still maintains broad support overall.

Zelenskyy abroad

Mr Zelenskyy’s global standing skyrocketed after 2022. He became not just Ukraine’s leader but the face of its diplomatic effort, repeatedly addressing parliaments, world leaders and public audiences to sustain foreign support.

By framing the war with Russia as a broader struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, Ukraine’s president positioned his country on the world stage as defending both European and Western values.

He’s been successful in his repeated attempts to bring financial and military support to Ukraine and maintained working relationships with key allies throughout the war. He even wrestled Donald Trump back from the brink after their disastrous White House meeting last February.

Outside questions remain – largely from Europe – over Mr Zelenskyy’s ability to tackle corruption at home, while his reputation in Russia has remained negative, but his image on the world stage overall remains positive.

Zelenskyy the man

So, what about how the last four years have changed Mr Zelenskyy personally?

There is no doubt about the toll the war has taken on the president and his family, as it has for millions of Ukrainians.

In the early months of the war, his family were evacuated and taken to secret locations to keep them safe. That separation had a clear impact on Mr Zelenskyy.

According to First Lady Olena Zelenska, her husband now appreciates the simple things more, such as communication with his family.

“Send him a photo of his son or tell him what his daughter said. And it touches him very emotionally now,” she said in 2023.

“He wasn’t so sensitive to it before.”

Vladimir Putin

Despite hoping to see Ukraine capitulate within days, Russia’s invasion has now dragged into its fifth year. In that time, Mr Putin’s global standing has largely deteriorated to pariah status.

The Ukraine war has recast his image, both domestically as the wartime leader Russia “needs” (in state narratives) and internationally as a more marginalised, conflict-driven figure.

Personally, the Russian president has become more isolated since the invasion, both in terms of his public appearances and his demeanour – claiming he “jokes less” since the war began.

Putin at home

Inside Russia, Mr Putin’s popularity has been sustained by a mix of state-controlled messaging, repression of dissent and wartime patriotic mobilisation, even amid economic strain and military setbacks.

His approval ratings initially rose sharply after the invasion began, reaching some of the highest figures in years, with a surge in patriotic sentiment and support for “defending Russia”.

And while sanctions, mobilisation and economic pressures dented some support, independent and state pollsters still often report significant backing for Mr Putin among many Russians.

Even so, it can be difficult to gauge public opinion of the president inside Russia thanks to censorship and media control.

The Kremlin has demanded active participation in and support for the war from society since 2022, not just quiet compliance.

Opposition politics are outlawed, independent media has been almost entirely dismantled or subjected to strict “foreign agent” laws, and even mentioning the war in ways that contradict official narratives can lead to prison sentences.

But that hasn’t stopped some direct criticism. One woman wrote to Mr Putin demanding an explanation as to why her late son, an 18-year-old conscript, had been involved in combat.

The spiralling cost of living has also damaged Mr Putin at home. For many households, everyday essentials – from basic groceries to fuel and housing – have become markedly more expensive, squeezing incomes despite official assurances of economic resilience.

During his 2025 annual address, Russians sent messages for the president to answer, many of which raised concerns over the state of the economy.

Putin abroad

Outside Russia’s borders, Mr Putin’s reputation has worsened markedly.

While relations with many Western governments were already strained before 2022, the invasion of Ukraine transformed long-standing suspicion into broad diplomatic isolation.

Mr Putin no longer sits comfortably at global tables and forums frequented by world powers, while several Western governments have severed ties entirely.

In response, Russia’s president has kept relationships with his few remaining allies close, narrowing his diplomatic circle.

Read more: How Moscow and its allies are trying to display their immunity to Western pressure

He signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with North Korea in 2024 and signed a similar deal, promising future investment, with China in 2025.

The outlier is the US.

Mr Putin had no contact with the White House during the early stages of the war under Joe Biden. But the return of Donald Trump brought a shift in approach: several phone calls and a face-to-face meeting in Alaska have suggested a desire to redefine the two powers’ relationship.

Putin the man

As with Mr Zelenskyy, there is little doubt that four years of war have also taken a significant toll on Russia’s leader.

During his 2024 year-end press conference, he stated that the ongoing war in Ukraine had changed him, causing him to “joke less” and “almost stop laughing”.

He also said that his focus has shifted, stating his happiness would not be complete until all Russian forces return from the frontline.

Mr Putin also appears to have become more physically and socially isolated during the war, with fewer spontaneous public interactions and reduced foreign travel compared with pre-war years.