Meet Olena Zelenska, the woman behind Volodymyr Zelensky

They say that behind every great man, there's a great woman. What is true is that Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine and wife of Volodymyr Zelensky, is her own woman with great accomplishments.

Zelenska has become one of the symbols of resistance during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky's wife and children did not want to leave their country. During the first months of the Russian invasion, she remained in hiding in a secret refuge in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

From within Kyiv, the president sent messages of strength to the population and the world. Zelensky has said he is Russia's number 1 target. That would make Olena one of the kremlin's top priorities.

In a letter published on the website of the Presidency of Ukraine, Olena spoke of the struggles in Ukraine that started with the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.

“What happened just over a week ago was unbelievable,” Zelenska wrote in March 2022. “Our country was peaceful, our cities, towns, and villages were full of life.”

But who's this woman that fate has forced to be a leader in the middle of a war?

Olena Zelenska (née Kiyashko) was born in the same city and the same year as her husband Volodymyr: In 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, the eighth most populous city of Ukraine.

Olena and Volodymyr met at school as children and grew up together. By the time they went to university, they started dating. He graduated in Law and she in Architecture.

(Photo: the couple with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during an October 2020 visit to Buckingham Palace)

Olena and Volodymyr Zelenskiy were married in September 2003. They have two children, Oleksandra and Kirilo, who were born in 2004 and 2013, respectively.

(Photo: Press Office of Ukrainian Presidency, handout)

In addition to being an architect, Olena is a screenwriter. Together with her husband, she founded the production company Kvartal 95 where they worked together on different projects.

Before going into politics, Zelensky was, in fact, a well-known comedic actor in his country (and also famous and loved in Russia).

In various interviews, Olena has said that she was not thrilled when her husband decided to run for the presidency of Ukraine.

Yet, she's always shown her support and been an active First Lady since Zelensky won the elections.

As First Lady of Ukraine, since May 2019, she has focused on several issues. Among them are adequate school nutrition, gender equality, mental health, equal opportunities, dissemination of Ukrainian culture and the fight against gender violence.

(Photo: Press Office of Ukrainian Presidency, handout)

Olena is an active user of Instagram where she has nearly two and a half million followers. Currently, she is using the social network to denounce the tragedies caused by the war on Ukrainian territory.

Although she initially indicated that she prefers to remain in the background, Zelenska ended up playing a prominent role in the government. She has always shown her commitment to the country.

When it comes to fashion, Olena almost always turns to Ukrainian designers for her looks at official events. The First Lady's style is classic and understated.

"I could go on living my life further away, away from problems and media attacks, but I decided to support my husband," she said in an interview with Vogue Ukraine. "It's not that easy for him and he needs someone who is close, to hold hands during official visits."

Zelenska has become an influential opinion leader in her country and abroad for the Ukrainian cause.

Volodymyr Zelensky's wife ranked 30th in Focus magazine's list of the 100 most influential Ukrainians.

In the photo, Olena is visiting Pope Francis at the Vatican, together with her husband, in February 2020.

They were also received by the Macrons at the Élysée Palace in April 2021. Zelensky went to France at the time to discuss Ukraine's possible entry into NATO.