The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has opened up about the distressing consequences of the war on her family following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
During her conversation with BBC, Olena Zelenska highlighted how her family, including her son, has been affected by the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
‘This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side,’ she said.
Additionally, she mentioned how the family longs to have quality time together.
‘But we stay strong, we have strength both emotionally and physically. And I am sure we will handle it together,’ she added.
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Olena Zelenska and her children took refuge in undisclosed, hidden locations for several months during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
She describes her emotional state at the genesis of the invasion as ‘a constant feeling of adrenaline’. Subsequently, she thought it was ‘necessary’ to calm herself and start living life in ‘the existing conditions’.
Having emerged from hiding in the past year, the war propelled the former scriptwriter into the limelight, setting the stage for her to travel globally, meet world leaders, and deliver speeches.
She said, ‘We don’t live together with my husband, the family is separated. We have the opportunity to see each other but not as often as we would like. My son misses his father.’
She explained that her children have paid an emotional price for the uncertainty of war.
‘It pains me to watch that my kids don’t plan anything. At such an age, young people. My daughter is 19. They dream of travelling, of new sensations, emotions. She does not have such an opportunity.’
‘There are limitations in time in what you can allow yourself, they exist, and we somehow try to live within them.’
According to BBC, the First Lady and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky were high school sweethearts who later collaborated in a comedy troupe and TV studio – he as an actor and she as a scriptwriter.