If Zelenskyy Was Assassinated... What Would Happen?

This week, Ukrainian Security Services foiled yet another attempt on Zelenskyy's life, arresting a woman on suspicion of colluding with Russia. This does raise an uncomfortable question: what would happen if Ukraine's President was actually assassinated?

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00:00 Introduction
00:49 The Plans to Assassinate the President
03:03 How Zelenskyy is Protected
03:53 What Happens if Zelenskyy is Assassinated?
05:33 The Line of Succession
07:23 Daily Discussion

[TheBlueMotel]

"I don't need a ride, I need ammunition" probably one of the greatest quotes he's ever made

[extralook]

Russians have hard time understanding that Ukrainians are not fighting for Zelensky. They are fighting for Ukraine.

[jensschroder]

Even if Zelenskyy were dead, it would not end Ukrainian resistance to Russia.
Zelenskyy presents his country superbly in the west.
But it wasn't Zelenskyy who led Ukraine in opposition to Moscow. It was the people that elevated Zelenskyy to this position as leader.
If it weren't there, it would have to be replaced by someone else.
But the will of the Ukrainian people is stronger than ever against Putin.

[jacoporegini]

While villains are buried and forgotten, heroes are as strong in death as they are in life, if not more.

[markholland]

Yes, in my opinion Zelenskiy has done all he had to do last year: staying in Kyiv and leading his nation against the invader, guiding his country into strong ties with the eu, setting up a coalition of western allies to defend Ukraine's sovereignty. To reverse all what has been set in motion last year, killing one or two politians is not enough.
This idea comes from the incapacity of the russians to think about another country as being different from them: a docile nation that almost blindly follows the leader wherever the leader takes them.

[QwoaX]

I just read "Zelenskyy Was Assassinated..." and almost got a panic attack.

Either way, no matter what Russia does, it always backfires in some way.
The troops' tenacity will increase and there will be a bidder war who can react by delivering the most military hardware to Ukraine.

[DG]

He prb becomes a martyr so most likely a counterproductive effort on the part of the Russians even if they succeed.

[Jayvee]

The Chairman of the Parliament would succeed him

[idraote]

Zelensky has been incredibly effective as leader of a country in war.
He has rallied his people, he has solicited and obtained international support, he's always put his face in the decisions.

Some people say he was a bad peace time leader and I do think he should resign as soon as the war is won to preserve his image, but nobody can underestimate the work he has done.

[insu_na]

I still think it's kinda funny how a comedian and reality TV star is one of the most fierce and beloved leaders of Ukraine, well deserved, too, given his success in rallying the country and building alliances. I hope he survives to see Ukraine restored eventually.

[DoctorM]

What happens is absolutely nothing. Zelensky is not an autocrat. Ukraine is a parliamentary-presidential republic, so he actually have very limited authority, being more symbolic leader. Basically president in Ukraine have two jobs: he's a head of armed forces (but in practice leaves in the hands of military HQ) and head of country's diplomatic relationships. If anything it would make him a martyr.

[TroPyn]

"Stalin sent assassin after assassin after Tito, who thwarted all attempts on his life. Tito eventually wrote a letter to Stalin that was pretty damn badass:

“Stop sending people to kill me. We’ve already captured five of them, one of them with a bomb and another with a rifle. […] If you don’t stop sending killers, I’ll send one to Moscow, and I won’t have to send a second."

[-.]

He has already done the job perfectly. He stayed in Kyiv and resisted fascist Russia. Ukraine had the perfect president at the time. If he is killed now he will become a martyr, the West will enter Ukraine more forcefully and Russia will lose even faster than if he is alive. At the present time, he is no longer completly irreplaceable.

[marcofava]

If Zelensky is killed by Russia or her proxies he'll become a Martyr to Ukraine and Ukraine would turn this into a forever war, victory or death to the end, and it may also cause them to escalate attacks on Russian territory.

We know that Ukraine can strike quite far into Russia and even in Moscow, and those attacks would only be escalated by a factor of ten.

[Cainthegodslayer]

The benefit of a democratic regime with the rule of law, is that the head of state and or government are not the state. The system doesn't depend on 1 person, so if the leader is taken out a new one just takes their place which is guaranteed by the laws and system of checks and balances, while an authoritarian system is by design held up by one person, and if that person falls out of the picture, chaos nearly always ensues. If Zelensky dies, it would be a tragedy sure, but the Ukrainian state apparatus and military would remain organised and capable of fulfilling it's task. If Putin dies the russian state as we know it dies with him.

[autothrust]

You’ll just make him into a martyr, and a rallying cry to unite and fight back stronger.

[caocao]

Assassinating Zelensky would be a grave Russian strategic error. They'd make him into a martyr, and would only further harden Ukrainian efforts to drive them out.

[Nebarus]

Putin would wet his diaper and the Ukranian people would keep fighting? That said, I wish him a long life right into peace for an independent Ukraine.

[nazistowskisnob]

Glory to Ukraine, they have just advanced significantly in Kupiansky and in the Zaporizia sectors. hope they reach the Sea of Azov by the end of the month

[yanbarbosa]

Funny how when in danger his first reaction is to call his papas in America hahahahaha