A viral photograph which has turned Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into an international war hero is actually a year old - and was taken during peace time.
The image of the pin-up president dressed in combat gear has been shared by thousands of people worldwide since the war with Russia erupted on Friday.
His courage in the face of the mighty Russian onslaught has been praised worldwide as he leads his nation in the fight of its life against President Vladimir Putin.
Media personality Todd Sampson used the image to compare President Zelenskyy's response to the Russian invasion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Hawaiian holiday at the height of the 2019 Black Summer bushfires.
But the reality is that the inspiring photograph was actually taken long before Russian tanks headed for Kyiv - and he's shown far greater bravery since.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy has become an international war hero over this picture of him visiting troops in the Donbass region last year
Australian media personality Todd Sampson sparked heated debate online after comparing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Scott Morrison in this tweet (pictured)
The picture of the former comedian turned politician wearing a bulletproof vest and striding purposefully while casually carrying his combat helmet was actually taken on April 9, 2021.
It was snapped by an official photographer during a routine trip to visit armed forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donbass region, with war still nearly a year away.
The president has since won over the world with the way he has stared down Russia as Putin threatens to take over his country and hunt him down.
President Zelenskiyy has repeatedly been seen in the midst of the action, even taking tea with his troops on the frontline as they repelled the Russian invaders (pictured)
President Zelenskiyy has refused offers from Western governments to spirit him out of the country to safety, and insisted he will stay to fight alongside his countrymen.
He has repeatedly been seen in the midst of the action, even taking tea with his troops on the frontline as they repelled the Russian invaders.
On Monday it was reported Putin has now recruited a gang of 400 hired Russian killers based in Africa to track him down and execute him.
A private militia known as the Wagner Group allegedly has personal orders from Putin to take out Zelenskyy - and 23 other government figures - to allow Moscow to finally take over its neighbour.
Wagner Group (pictured in Syria) has conducted covert operations across Africa and the Middle East, including in Syria, and are now said to be targeting the Ukraine president
According to the Times, the army-for-hire, run by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin - a close ally of the Russian president who is often dubbed 'Putin's chef' - was flown in five weeks ago and is being offered a huge sum for the mission.
The highly-trained operatives are said to be waiting for the green light from the Kremlin to pounce, with their hit list also including Ukraine's prime minister, the entire cabinet, mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir - both boxing champions who have become iconic figures on the front lines of the capital.
However the plans were rumbled after they reached the upper echelons of the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning.
It prompted Kyiv to declare a 36-hour 'hard' curfew, ordering everyone indoors so that soldiers could sweep the streets for Russian saboteurs.
Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (pictured) has posted daily video messages to his countrymen, raising morale and telling them to have faith in their country
Citizens were warned that they risked being 'liquidated' if they were spotted outside during the curfew hours, as they may be assumed to be the enemy.
A source with knowledge of the Wagner Group's activities said between 2,000 and 4,000 mercenaries had arrived in Ukraine in January, but with different missions.
Some were sent to the rebel-held regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country - while the 400 tasked with taking out Zelenskyy headed to Kyiv from Belarus.
The group are said to be tracking Zelesnkyy and his colleagues via their mobile phones and claim to know where they are at all times.
Another source claimed the killers-for-hire have been told to put the brakes on while Putin holds 'peace talks' with Zelenskyy this week.
But they have allegedly been told the Russian leader has no desire to reach a deal, branding the meeting on the Belarus border as 'smoke and mirrors.'
News of their
