Ukraine is the kind of place where the bizarre rarely has the capacity to shock.

In a presidential campaign that pits a man trying to find a wife against another trying to escape a suspect criminal history, and another trying to dupe elderly voters, the idea of a candidate holding a non-rally rally might also seem almost normal.

Few of the 15,000 crowd who attended a “concert” by comedian Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine’s fourth-largest city on Monday evening were particularly spooked. For many of them, it was an unexpected and free social occasion – emboldened by spirits and Mr Zelensky’s familiar if primitive brand of feel-good ditties and mother-in-law jokes.

But for Mr Zelensky, 41, things have come a long way from such humour.

Up until a month ago, his surprise candidacy was considered a technical one: a way, perhaps, for his backers to get leverage on the two front runners, president Petro Poroshenko and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Show all 32 1 /32 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of opposition parties burn flares during a rally demanding to break an agreement with Russia on the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, in front of the parliament building in Kiev Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps light flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev after Russia seized two of their armored artillery vessels and a tug boat in the Black Sea AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists demand to break the diplomatic relations with Russia and nationalization of Russian property in Ukraine EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian activists burn flares during their rally in front of Russian Consulate in Kharkiv EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of opposition parties burn flares during a rally demanding to break an agreement with Russia on the use of the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, in front of the parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine November 26, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich GLEB GARANICH Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Seized Ukrainian ships, small armoured artillery ships and a tug boat, are seen anchored in a port of Kerch Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps brandish flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Some hundreds of protesters from far-right party National Corps brandished yellow-and-blue flags with the Ukrainian national trident symbol, and a banner reading 'Don't back down!" . (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) Efrem Lukatsky AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, announced, on 25 November, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council that they will introduce martial law in Ukraine for a period of 60 days and appeal to the Parliament to consider the move Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Russia seized two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Children from an orphanage volunteer to help the city defenders strengthen trenches on Ukraine's Army positions near the village of Rybatske 25 km from Mariupol AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps light flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Some hundreds of protesters from far-right party National Corps brandished yellow-and-blue flags with the Ukrainian national trident symbol, and a banner reading 'Don't back down!" (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) Efrem Lukatsky AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Policemen guard at Russian consulate during a protest action in the Black Sea Ukrainian city of Odessa AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 epa07190805 Ukrainian Nationalists burn flares and smoke grenades during their rally in front of Parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine, 26 November 2018 as they demand to break the diplomatic relations with Russia and nationalization of Russian property in Ukraine. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on 25 November 2018 announced the decision to introduce martial law in Ukraine and to appeal to the Parliament to consider the move at an extraordinary meeting. It is about the introduction of martial law for a period of 60 days. The Ukrainian Parliament will convene for an extraordinary meeting at evening 26 November 2018. Russia has seized three Ukrainian vessels amid their leaving the Kerch Strait on 25 November 2018. The two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats have come under enemy fire and are now dead in the water. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped. The vessels have been captured by special forces of the Russian Federation, the press service of Ukraine's Navy said on Facebook on Sunday evening. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of Ukrainian far-right groups shout slogans during their rally in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on November 26, 2018, as they demand to set martial law in the country and to cut diplomatic relations with Russia. - Ukraine's military was on high alert and parliament was to vote on November 26 on a request from President to impose martial law for 60 days after Russian navy seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 With relations still raw after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the capture of three Ukrainian naval vessels risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict. Graphic explains how the naval incident unfolded on a map Graphic News Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of far-right parties burn flares in front of the parliament building in Kiev during a rally to support the Ukrainian navy Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A Ukraine army APC moves toward on position at an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Ukrainian Nationalists sign a banner with a slogan reading like 'Not retreat and not surrendering!' EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists of Ukrainian far-right groups hold flares during their rally in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on November 26, 2018, as they demand to set martial law in the country and to cut diplomatic relations with Russia. - Ukraine's military was on high alert and parliament was to vote on November 26 on a request from President to impose martial law for 60 days after Russian navy seized three Ukrainian ships off the coast of Crimea. (Photo by Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP)SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images SERGEI SUPINSKY AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Activists glue Ukrainian flag on the fence of Russian consulate AFP/Getty Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A volunteer with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Volunteers with the right-wing paramilitary Azov National Corps hold flares during a rally on the snowy streets in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Some hundreds of protesters from far-right party National Corps brandished yellow-and-blue flags with the Ukrainian national trident symbol, and a banner reading 'Don't back down!" (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) Efrem Lukatsky AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 epa07190891 Ukrainian Nationalists attend their rally in front of Parliament building in Kiev, Ukraine, 26 November 2018 as they demand to break the diplomatic relations with Russia and nationalization of Russian property in Ukraine. The President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on 25 November 2018 announced the decision to introduce martial law in Ukraine and to appeal to the Parliament to consider the move at an extraordinary meeting. It is about the introduction of martial law for a period of 60 days. The Ukrainian Parliament will convene for an extraordinary meeting at evening 26 November 2018. Russia has seized three Ukrainian vessels amid their leaving the Kerch Strait on 25 November 2018. The two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats have come under enemy fire and are now dead in the water. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped. The vessels have been captured by special forces of the Russian Federation, the press service of Ukraine's Navy said on Facebook on Sunday evening. EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO SERGEY DOLZHENKO EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 An activist piles up tires during a protest against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy ships, which Russia blocked from passing through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov in the Black Sea, in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev, Ukraine November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A National Guard serviceman extinguishes a torch thrown by a protester during a rally against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy ships Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A protester throws a smoke grenade during a rally in front of the embassy of Russia in Kiev AP Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Protestors set up paper ships on the tires during their rally near of Russian embassy building in Kiev EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Smoke from a flare thrown by a protester is seen during a rally against the seizure by Russian special forces of three of the Ukrainian navy ships, which Russia blocked from passing through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov in the Black Sea, in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev, Ukraine November 25, 2018. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich GLEB GARANICH Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 A man extinguishes a burning car of the embassy of Russia Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 Paper boats are seen placed during a protest Reuters Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 epa07190225 Ukrainian policemen guard the Russian embassy building with smoke behind during Ukrainian activists rally in Kiev, Ukraine, 25 November 2018. Russia has seized three Ukrainian vessels amid their leaving the Kerch Strait; Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is gathering the Military Cabinet over the incident. The two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats have come under enemy fire and are now dead in the water. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped. The vessels have been captured by special forces of the Russian Federation, the press service of Ukraine's Navy said on Facebook on Sunday evening. The Ukrainian Navy also reported the number of the Ukrainian servicemen wounded in the incident grew to two persons as Ukrainian media report. EPA/STEPAN FRANKO EPA-EFE/STEPAN FRANKO EPA Protests break out after Russia seize Ukraine warships in 2018 epa07190217 A protestor throws a smoke grenade at the building during their rally near the Russian embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, 25 November 2018. Russia has seized three Ukrainian vessels amid their leaving the Kerch Strait; Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is gathering the Military Cabinet over the incident. The two small-sized 'Berdiansk' and 'Nikopol' armored artillery boats have come under enemy fire and are now dead in the water. The 'Yany Kapu' tugboat has forcibly been stopped. The vessels have been captured by special forces of the Russian Federation, the press service of Ukraine's Navy said on Facebook on Sunday evening. The Ukrainian Navy also reported the number of the Ukrainian servicemen wounded in the incident grew to two persons as Ukrainian media report. EPA/STEPAN FRANKO EPA-EFE/STEPAN FRANKO EPA

At that point, the popular comedian’s presidential ambitions seemed limited to his fictional lead role in Servant of the People, a long-running TV series depicting a secondary school teacher who accidentally becomes president.

But Mr Zelensky seems to be repeating that trajectory in real life. According to the latest poll figures, the performer has the backing of 32 per cent of those certain they will vote —nearly twice that for Mr Poroshenko (17 per cent) and Ms Tymoshenko, on 14 per cent.

According to veteran pollster Volodymyr Paniotto, director of the International Institute of Sociology, it is now almost certain that Mr Zelensky will make the second round, scheduled for 21 April, if none of the candidates receive 50 per cent of the first vote this Sunday.

Given the enormous negative ratings of the other candidates, who are running neck and neck, the showman is favourite to win that too.

“Zelensky is so far ahead of both Poroshenko and Tymoshenko that they will go through [to the second vote] even if his electorate largely fails to turn up, which is possible given the young demographic,” he says.

The performer’s appeal is largely built on solid name recognition and social media presence. Even before the election campaign began, he had 2.8 million subscribers on Instagram and half a million on Facebook.

But perhaps his most effective weapon is his ability to mask a political persona behind his happy-go-lucky screen identity.

At the Dnipro concert, it was impossible to distinguish where the showman ended and the presidential candidate began. He was the man of the people. He was a man who talked about children and “the future”. He was the man who sang chirpy songs with names such as “Life is Beautiful”. And the man who paused the show to reunite a little girl who had become separated from her grandad.

What he wasn’t was a man of any discernible political policy. “This is a concert, not a political rally, remember,” Mr Zelensky teased. “Ha ha ha.”

Only at the end of the 90-minute gig did candidate Zelensky briefly emerge. In a short monologue, which also avoided any mention of policy, he declared he was ready to lead Ukraine “out of the darkness”.

“We’ve lived the last 28 years in a thick, dark forest, where every once in a while someone comes along and says they will show you the light. They promise so much, but they just take us round and round the woods. Raise your eyes, people, and find the light.”

We’re fed up with the dinosaurs who have been with us for 15 years Valya Vladimirova

The comedian’s charismatic manner clearly played well with his audience, who howled his name in delight.

Student Valya Vladimirova, 19, says people like her could identify with a man like Mr Zelensky, and predicted he would “sweep the youth vote”.

“We’re fed up with the dinosaurs who have been with us for 15 years,” she says.

Alisa Rosenko, 53, said she had heard about the free concert from a colleague at the sewing factory where she works. Originally from nearby Krivoi Rog, the same industrial town where Mr Zelensky spent his childhood, she said all her working-class friends were rooting from him.

“We want him to save us from the selfish pigs who run this country,” she says.

When The Independent called in on Mr Zelensky’s Kiev campaign headquarters, his chief strategist Dmitry Razumkov insisted the decision to dispense of clear political messaging in favour of such concerts was an “accident” rather than planning.

The concerts had already been scheduled, he insisted; the team had “limited funds” and, besides, he said, it was “not certain” that they would have got permission to hold rallies. But later, the strategist conceded it was the plan all along. They wanted “to do things differently” and that meant “avoiding a traditional political campaign”.

But some question how different the campaign really is.

Little, for example, is known about the true extent to the comedian’s political relationship with controversial oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, whose animosity towards Petro Poroshenko is well known. Mr Kolomoisky has rarely been seen in Ukraine since the forced nationalisation of PrivatBank, where he was the main shareholder, in 2016.

Mr Kolomoisky’s 1+1 TV channel has been the principle home for Mr Zelensky’s creative output over the last 15 years. And a look at the channel’s schedule leaves little secret of where its sympathies lie.

This week sees the timely premiere of the third season of Mr Zelensky’s Servant of the People. Then, on Saturday, which according to Ukrainian electoral law is a day of campaign silence, the channel will present a whole day of Zelensky-themed programmes. These will include an hour-long profile of Ronald Reagan, actor-turned-president, voiced by none other than Mr Zelensky.

To be honest, I’ve ceased understanding what it is you need to shock the Ukrainian electorate Volodymyr Paniotto

On Wednesday, Mr Poroshenko said he had filed a libel suit against Mr Kolomoisky and his channel. In a statement, he said he “had done so to protect Ukraine from the attacks of a fugitive oligarch who sits abroad and thinks that he can control the strings of Ukrainian puppets”.

The speculation about the influence of oligarchs does not seem to have had a major effect on Mr Zelensky’s chances, says Mr Paniotto.

“Ukrainians seem to accept politicians are connected with oligarchs,” he says.