Ukraine’s first woman tells of emotional influence of struggle on household
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kraine’s first woman Olena Zelenska has advised of the emotional pressure that Russia’s invasion and struggle has placed on her household, saying: “I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side.”
Ms Zelenska spoke of the ache of her youngsters being unable to plan their futures and the way they can’t expertise the “new sensations” and “emotions” that typical younger individuals do.
In an interview with the BBC, she stated: “This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side.”
The first woman was pressured into hiding together with her youngsters when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Those early months introduced “a constant feeling of adrenaline” – however she says she has since managed to calm herself and begin dwelling life in “the existing conditions”.
Ms Zelenska, 45, emerged from hiding final 12 months and has since travelled the world meeing leaders and giving speeches.
“We don’t live together with my husband, the family is separated,” she stated.
“We have the opportunity to see each other but not as often as we would like. My son misses his father.”
“But we stay strong, we have strength both emotionally and physically. And I am sure we will handle it together,” she added.
The first woman and President Volodymyr Zelensky have been highschool sweethearts. They went on to work collectively in a comedy troupe and TV studio, with him as an actor and her as a scriptwriter.
They have two youngsters, daughter Oleksandra, 19, and Kyrylo, regarded as 10.
She stated the struggle was taking its toll on her youngsters.
“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.”