He’s been called a hero by people in his country and around the world.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the spirit of Ukraine have been named Time Magazine’s 2022 Person of the year.

Time’s Editor-in-Chief announced the choice Wednesday morning, saying Zelenskyy has kept the world’s attention on Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is described as a symbol of defiance and democracy while he continues to lead his nation through Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked Russian war on Ukraine.

Despite international appeals for the 44-year-old and his family to be evacuated to a safe location during the opening days of the invasion, Mr Zelenskyy stayed in Kyiv with his defence forces.

He said he was “not hiding” and “not afraid of anyone” as he led his nation’s response.

Mr Zelenskyy was born in 1978 in Russian-speaking Kryvyi Rih, a southeastern region of what was then known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

The annual award by the U.S. magazine’s editors is given to someone who is felt to have had the most global influence during the last 12 months.

The magazine has previously said their Person of the Year is someone “who affected the news or our lives the most, for better, or worse”.