6 pieces of gear worn by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has traded his suits and ties for olive drab and ballistic gear. As a wartime leader, Zelenskyy makes visits to combat zones where he dons protective gear. On international visits where he pleads his country's cause and makes requests for aid, Zelenskyy wears simple, military-style clothing too.

Before 2022, Zelenskyy wore a suit and tie befitting a European leader on state trips. Since the Russian invasion, Zelenskyy is often seen in an olive green sweater with a tryzub, or trident, the Ukrainian coat of arms. Made by the Ukrainian company U-Shirt, the garment is appropriately named the President's Sweatshirt and sells for $100 USD. The sweater itself is made of 95% cotton and 5% elastane while the tryzub is embroidered in golden silk. Of course, the President's Sweatshirt is made in Ukraine.

In December 2022, Zelenskyy made a trip to the United States, his first international trip following the Russian invasion. Walking with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, Zelenskyy's coyote brown shoes contrasted starkly with Biden's polished black oxfords. The Ukrainian President's tactical shoes were LOWA Innox Pro Lo TFs. LOWA describes the footwear as a "highly breathable shoe [which] is extremely lightweight yet delivers consistent rebound, superb support and extra-long life." The Innox Pro Lo TF retails for $195 USD.

When Zelenskyy isn't wearing his President's Sweatshirt, he is likely wearing a Combat Tactical shirt. A Turkish company, Combat Tactical makes the shirt in both a polo and crew neck. It features small, zippered pockets, loop velcro on the shoulders and is made of quick-drying polyester. Of course, Zelenskyy's shirt is olive in color and bears a Ukrainian flag and/or tryzub patch on the shoulders. The shirt sells for less than $20 USD but is hard to find in-stock after Zelenskyy popularized its use.

Zelenskyy's jacket has become an icon in its own right. Made by the Ukrainian brand M-TAC, the Legatus Microfleece became extremely popular in the weeks following the Russian invasion as Zelenskyy made video appearances in it. The jacket attracted so much attention that, when Zelenskyy's personal fleece went up for auction at Christie's in London, the $110 USD garment sold for an incredible £90,000. Then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson conducted the auction personally and the funds raised benefited Ukraine's defense in the opening stages of the war. Demand for the fleece surged around the world and M-TAC has not restocked it as the company prioritizes equipping Ukrainian troops. The company’s U.S. operations manager, Taras Rudnytskyi, told Insider, “We hope to restock it someday, maybe after our victory.”

Personal body armor has become commonplace on the 21st-century battlefield. Protecting vital organs in the wearer's torso, armor plates are held against the body in plate carriers. When visiting combat zones, Zelenskyy has been seen wearing a Warrior Assault Systems DCS Plate Carrier in Multicam. The UK-based company describes the plate carrier as "a lightweight low profile system which is rugged yet ergonomically designed to provide exceptional comfort and functionality." It retails for about $250 USD.

Along with his DCS plate carrier, Zelenskyy wears a high-cut Future Assault Shell Technology-style helmet, also in Multicam. The FAST helmet, originally made by Ops-Core, was popularized by U.S. Special Operators for its ability to mount hearing protection/communication headsets to its rails and is widely copied. The Turkish company Garanti Kompozit claims to be the manufacturer of Zelenskyy's helmet. "[Ukraine] asked for 20 helmets and vests for Mr. Zelenskyy and his team, so we sent them, we were happy to see them on TV," company manager Vedat Tüzer told Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank during a visit to the factory. The Ops-Core FAST helmet sells for about $2,000 USD and the Garanti Kompozit sells for about €1,200.