Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, expecting a quick and painless victory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, often clad in camouflage, has become one of the world’s most recognizable leaders - marshaling his country’s improbably strong and successful defense, and, in his gravelly voice, imploring other nations to help.

Though Zelenskyy was initially skeptical of warnings from Washington that Russia was about to invade, he stayed put when Russian troops began to attack from the north and the east aiming to seize Kyiv, the capital, and to kill him. He gave emotional speeches that helped secure massive military and financial support from abroad.

At times, Zelenskyy’s optimism about Ukraine’s chances of winning the war have not matched reality. Russia is now advancing on the battlefield and a desperately needed aid package from the United States is stalled in Congress. But Ukraine is still fighting - and Zelenskyy very much remains the face of Ukraine’s defense.

As we look back on two years of war in Ukraine, here are its leader’s most significant moments.

Russia invades; Zelenskyy stays in Kyiv

As Russia began attacking Ukraine on Feb. 24, fears grew that Russia would try to assassinate Zelenskyy to bring the war to a quick close. Ukrainian officials told The Washington Post they shared those warnings with Zelenskyy, and the United States said it was ready to help evacuate the Ukrainian leader. Instead, Zelenskyy stayed - defiantly posting a video of himself and other members of his government in the streets of Kyiv on Feb. 25. “We are all here, defending our independence, our state,” he said.

Zelenskyy’s decision defied “the Russian calculus that expected him to flee,” said Leo Litra, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, in a message. It also “mobilized the state institutions and armed forces, some of which were confused in the first day of the large-scale war,” he said.

Zelenskyy appeals to Europe for help

Once Russia invaded, Zelenskyy began to appeal to for international support, and urged them to crack down on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. Many of Ukraine’s neighbors were wary of getting dragged into a conflict with Moscow. But Zelenskyy succeeded in bringing them on board - in part thanks to an emotionally charged speech he gave during an emergency meeting of the European Council on Feb. 24.

“That was the moment when Zelenskyy managed to win E.U. countries’ hearts and minds,” Litra said. Though many countries doubted that Ukraine could defeat Russia militarily, E.U. leaders “couldn’t refuse [Zelenskyy’s] appeal, so they decided to try,” he added.

Zelenskyy condemns ‘genocide’ in Bucha as Russian troops retreat

After Russian troops withdrew from Bucha in March 2022, following a weeks-long occupation, the world was met with scenes of horror as evidence emerged that Russian forces killed and tortured civilians there. On April 4, Zelenskyy traveled to Bucha and accused Russia of committing war crimes and genocide. He told journalists: “We want you to show the world what was happening here.”

Bucha was “arguably the turning point” for Zelenskyy and a moment that made clear to him “that the war will continue much longer,” Litra said. It came after representatives of Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul to try to negotiate an end to the fighting. But Bucha “denied any possibility for [Zelenskyy] to strike a peace deal” with Russia, said Litra.

Zelenskyy triumphantly visits liberated Izyum

After Ukrainian forces liberated the city of Izyum in Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region, Zelenskyy traveled to the city to meet with troops, and symbolically raised a Ukrainian flag while singing Ukraine’s national anthem. This marked an important moment as Ukraine’s 2022 counteroffensive in the east was gaining momentum and galvanizing spirits in Ukraine and among allies. In a fiery speech, he said Russia could temporarily occupy parts of Ukraine but would never “occupy our people, the Ukrainian people.”

Zelenskyy visits Washington in first trip since invasion

On Dec. 21, 2022, Zelenskyy visited the United States in his first trip outside Ukraine since the start of the war. The choice was symbolic of Kyiv’s close relationship with Washington, and also served as a way for Zelenskyy to signal he was not afraid to travel overseas despite the security risks involved. “So much in the world depends on you,” he told Congress - where lawmakers rose 18 times throughout his speech to clap and cheer for him. Shortly afterward, Congress approved $45 billion of new assistance for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy welcomes Biden in Kyiv

On Feb. 20, 2023, President Biden made the long journey to Kyiv. His trip was initially clouded in secrecy for security reasons, and then revealed with great fanfare when Biden and Zelenskyy were seen walking outside St. Michael’s golden-domed monastery in the Ukrainian capital. As The Post reported, the dramatic visit was a display of robust American support for Ukraine just four days before the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion.

Zelenskyy mourns loss of Bakhmut in visit to Hiroshima

After a long and bloody fight over control of Bakhmut, Russian forces were able to largely push Ukrainian forces out of the eastern Ukrainian city, in a significant battlefield victory. Zelenskyy, speaking from Hiroshima - the Japanese city decimated by an atomic bomb in 1945 - said Bakhmut had largely been leveled during the fighting. “Bakhmut is only in our hearts,” he said on May 21, 2023, after attending the Group of Seven Summit, where he pleaded with allies for more aid.

Zelenskyy visits Washington again; fails to secure congressional deal on aid

In December 2023, one year after his first visit, Zelenskyy returned to Washington to meet with Biden and congressional leaders and ask for continued assistance to Ukraine. This time, Zelenskyy did not walk away with an aid package; instead, Congress remained deadlocked over Biden’s request for more than $60 billion to keep Kyiv supplied. The “approaching presidential elections” in the United States “hijacked” Zelenskyy’s agenda in Washington, said Litra.

Zelenskyy ousts his top general, following dismissals in top ranks

Earlier this month, Zelenskyy moved to dismiss his top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, as part of an effort to shake up Ukraine’s military operation following a highly touted but unsuccessful counteroffensive over the summer and a slowdown in aid from allies. As The Post reported, the move came after several high-profile dismissals and departures of top government officials in 2023 amid corruption allegations - as Zelenskyy sought to signal to Western partners who provide Ukraine enormous amounts of defense aid that he had zero tolerance for corruption.

Zelenskyy pleads with international supporters not to abandon Ukraine

As Congress continued to block further military assistance to Ukraine, Zelenskyy addressed the Munich Security Conference on last week. He said Ukraine needed more weapons, particularly artillery and long-range weapons, and warned that Ukraine could not win the war without support. If Ukraine is left alone, he said, “Russia will destroy us” and other nearby countries. He added that “2024 must become a time for a full restoration of a rules-based world order.”

Missy Ryan, Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Alice Martins, Matt Viser, Tyler Pager, Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Yasmeen Abutaleb, Marianna Sotomayor, Abigail Hauslohner, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Liz Goodwin, Siobhán O’Grady, Serhiy Morgunov and Robyn Dixon contributed to this report.