Olena Zelenska is 44 years old, has two children (Aleksandra aged 17 and Kiril aged 9), and the same courage as her husband, Ukrainian President Volodmymr Zelensky. She is the First Lady of a country devastated by war, by raids, by bombing that, for six days, have been sowing a trail of innocent victims.
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Born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city located 130 km southwest of Dnipro, she is a Ukrainian architect, writer, author and activist. Olena Zelenska studied architecture before changing her specialization in screenwriting. And it was at the university that she met Volodmymr, who was a law student at the time. Olena co-founded a production company called Studio Kvartal 95, she has written several shows and films that aired in her country. The first lady, in addition to being one of the most influential people in Ukraine, is known for her comic verve and behind her husband’s sketches, when he was still a comedian, she would also be her signature.
War in Ukraine, broken families at Dnipro station
Francesca Mannocchi – photo by Alessio Romenzi
Always a discreet woman, able to stand by her husband’s side without interfering, a step back so as not to tarnish the president’s image, now, she too has become the heroine of the resistance to the Russian invasion. Olena has decided to stay with her husband in Ukraine. She and her two children have found refuge in a secret location from where she continues to support her people. She does it using social media, a powerful means, especially for her who has 2 million followers on her Instagram profile. In one of the first posts after the war began, she wanted to introduce herself to the world: «I am Olena Zelensky, I am the wife of Ukrainian President Volodmymr Zelensky. We got married in 2003. Our daughter was born in 2004 and our son in 2013. I am a writer and an architect. And I am also under the threat of death from Mr. Putin ».
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Anna zafesova
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, he tells everything that happens: he publishes photos, stories, videos. The latest is 14 hours ago in which he shows the situation of the Ukrainian people, explaining: «This is how Ukraine looks right now. Here is a video for the world to see: we are at war. Due to Putin’s attack, Ukrainians have to take their children to basements every night and fight the enemy under the walls of their homes. Ukraine is a peaceful country. We are against the war and we did not attack first. But we will not give up. The whole world, look: let’s fight for peace in your countries too.
And again «I will not panic or burst into tears. You will be calm and confident. My children look at me and I will stay close to them and next to my husband. But also next to you. I love you and I love Ukraine ». While in another post he reiterates his support for the country: “My dear Ukrainians! I watch you all. On TV, on the street, on the Internet. I see your posts and videos. And you know what? You are incredible! I am proud to live with you. in the same country! “
In 2019, Focus magazine placed her in 30th place on the list of the most influential women in the country. In an interview with Vogue, who dedicated the cover to her in 2019, declared: «I prefer to be behind the scenes. My husband is always on the front line, while I feel more comfortable in the shadows. I don’t like telling jokes. It is not in my character. But at the right moment I know when to intervene, in particular to draw the public’s attention to important social issues ».
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Among her initiatives, the commitment to spread the Ukrainian language in the world, the memorandum of understanding signed in June 2020 with Unicef and her speech, at the third Ukrainian Women’s Congress in 2019, with which she initiated membership of Ukraine to the G7 initiative on gender equality.