Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska has paid tribute to women in Ukraine, who she says have become the face of the country’s resistance against Russian forces.
Zelenska, who is married to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a series of images of Ukrainian women to Instagram, noting the impact they are having, whether on the frontlines or in the community.
“Before the war I once wrote that there are two million more women in Ukraine than men. Statistics are just like that. And now it takes on a whole new meaning,” Zelenska said.
“Because this means our current resistance has a particularly female face. My admiration and bow to you, incredible compatriots!”
“To those who fight…to those who heal, save, feed. And to those who continue to do their usual job – in pharmacies, shops, on transport, in utilities, so that life lasts and wins.
“To those who take children to shelters every day without panic and entertain them with games and cartoons to save children’s consciousness from war.
“To those who give birth in bomb storage.
“Today is the first day of spring. Remember how we all celebrated each other on this day before the war. So the sun is visible through the smoke of shelling.
“Everything will be spring, everything will be victory, everything will be Ukraine!”
Olena Zelenska, a professional screenwriter, was born in 1978 in Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine. She studied architecture at university and eventually became a writer. She met Volodymyr Zelenskyy while at university and they married in 2003. The couple have two children.
Before politics became the focus for Zelenskyy, the couple worked together on the same comedy show. Zelenska as a comedy screenwriter, and Zelenskyy as an actor. Zelenska works at production company Studio Quarter 95.
In 2019, Zelenska appeared in an issue of Vogue Ukraine, where she talked about being reluctant to enter the world of politics when her husband discussed the idea of running for President with her.
“I was not too happy when I realized that those were the plans. I realized how everything would change, and what difficulties we would have to face,” she told the magazine.
“I am a non-public person. But the new realities require their own rules, and I’m trying to comply with them.
“I can’t say that publicity or communication with the press is stressful for me. But I prefer staying backstage. My husband is always on the forefront, while I feel more comfortable in the shade. I am not the life of the party, I do not like to tell jokes. It’s not in my character. But I found reasons for myself in favour of publicity. One of them is the opportunity to attract people’s attention to important social issues.”
When Russia invaded Ukraine last week, Zelenska wrote on Instagram that she would stay strong for her family and Ukraine.
“Today I will not have panic and tears. I will be calm and confident. My children are looking at me. I will be next to them. And next to my husband. And with you.”