From living in the shadows to first lady refusing to leave her besieged country, this is the woman behind President Zelensky

Until three years ago, little was known about Olena Zelenska (44). Unlike her husband Volodimir Zelenski – then ‘just’ a popular comedian – she did not give interviews and did not appear at trendy parties. Until he was suddenly elected president of Ukraine in April 2019 and she decided to step out of the shadows. A portrait of a screenwriter, mother of two and role model to her – now – millions of followers on social media, who refuse to leave her country besieged by the Russians.

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