Zelensky and his family are Putin’s number one target, yet the Ukrainian president remains in the Kyiv. “My family is in Ukraine, my children are in Ukraine,” he said. His wife Olena Zelenska (44) also remains in the country to support her husband and the population. She addressed them on Instagram with the words: “Everyone I see on television, on the street, on the internet: I see your messages. You guys are awesome. I am proud to live in the same country as you. (…) Today I am not in a panic or in tears. I am calm and confident. My children are watching me and I will stand next to them. Next to my husband, and next to you.”
Actor and comedian
Before Zelensky (44) became president of Ukraine, he was already known as an actor and comedian. Funnily enough, he even played the part of a history teacher who became president in one series. He and Olena were already in a relationship at the time, but she stayed out of the spotlight at the time.
Meeting at the university
Olena Zelenska was born on February 5, 1978 in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, where her husband Volodymyr Zelensky was born that same year. Although the two went to school together and had mutual friends, they didn’t meet until they both went to university in the city. Olena chose engineering and Volodymyr law. Eventually she went in a completely different direction and became a writer. In 1997, she started as an author with the comedy group Kvartal 95, with which Zelensky became famous. The two started dating and after eight years the couple married on September 6, 2003. They had two children, daughter Oleksandra (2004) and son Kyrylo (2013).
Olena as first lady
Olena wasn’t an immediate fan of her husband’s plans to run for president, but since his inauguration on May 20, 2019, she’s been his biggest supporter. She takes her role as first lady very seriously. In November 2019, she was on the cover of the Ukrainian . with her first interview vogue and said in the interview that she wants to use this role to improve nutrition in schools and fight for gender equality. Even in these times of war, she refuses to leave the country in order to continue supporting him. Together with their 17-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, they did not flee from Ukraine, but went into hiding.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk† thesun.co.uk
