Moments later, Ms Vereshchuk walked in, talking urgently on her phone. Hanging up, she told us she was responding to problems at the Russian-occupied Chernobyl nuclear plant around 100 kilometres north of Kyiv.

While Mr Zelenskyy has been commanding international headlines and praise, less is known about the Deputy Prime Minister.

As some MPs within the Ukrainian government are taking up arms for the first time after Russia’s invasion of the country, Ms Vereshchuk had served as an officer in the Ukrainian army for five years.

The 42-year-old has also practised karate, hand-to-hand combat and Thai boxing.

She displays the same defiance that Mr Zelenskyy has come to embody.

“They will not succeed,” she said. “Kyiv will not be taken by the Russians. Otherwise, we will all die here, together with the Russians.”

Source: EXCLUSIVE: Four Corners Interview: In Ukraine HQ With Zelensky – What Was Said – 💥Peace & Truth