The Image of Russia in Volodymyr Zelensky’s Political Discourse (The First Week of the War)

The article aims at identifying and analysing the image of Russia, its role and functions in the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky’s political discourse in the first week of the war. The research encompasses linguistic and rhetorical means of image formation, such as semantic fields, nominations and conceptual metaphors. The re-search is scientifically relevant because it discloses the image of the aggressor in the political discourse of the leader of an invaded sovereign state. The portrayal of Russia as the invader, aggressor, terrorist and enemy in the president’s daily political dis-course may help him to reach the intended aim – to disclose the real aims of Russia and, personally, Putin to the political leaders of the world, and to encourage them to impose sanctions on Russia and its citizens, and to send military, humanitarian and financial help to the invaded and devastated Ukraine.