[How many kneepads did Cavanaugh wear out writing this hagiography?]
In his defense, Yanukovich scampered off to his master in Moscow rather than face an election he was likely* to lose. Zelensky could have left for Europe. That he chose to stay is a miracle. Zelensky completely demolished the longstanding image of the craven, money-grubbing Jew prevalent in much of that region for probably the last thousand years. And his halachically Jewish mayor of Kiev, wealthy celebrity and world-famous boxer, Klitschko *also* stayed. This is someone with options, and he stayed.
* His party went from 1/3 to 1/10 of the vote, so he would have lost his presidency. And probably been prosecuted and imprisoned for his shoot to kill orders.