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Olena Zelenska

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Volodymyrivna and the family name is Zelenska or Kiyashko.
Not to be confused with Elena Zelenskaya.

Olena Zelenska
Олена Зеленська
Zelenska in 2022
First Lady of Ukraine
Incumbent
Assumed role
20 May 2019[1]
PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy
Preceded byMaryna Poroshenko
Personal details
Born
Olena Volodymyrivna Kiyashko

(1978-02-06) 6 February 1978 (age 46)
Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
(now Ukraine)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2003)​
Children2
RelativesOleksandr Zelensky (father-in-law)
Alma materKryvyi Rih National University
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • model

Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska (née Kiyashko;[a] born 6 February 1978) is a Ukrainian architect and screenwriter who is the current First Lady of Ukraine as the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[2]

Early life and career

Olena Kiyashko was born in Kryvyi Rih on 6 February 1978.[3][4] Her mother was the head engineer of a factory and her father taught construction at a technical university.[4]

Zelenska studied architecture at Kryvyi Rih National University.[5] In 2003, she became a scriptwriter for Kvartal 95, working as part of a team drafting comedy sketches that her future husband and other cast members would perform.[4]

First Lady of Ukraine

On 20 May 2019, Zelenska became the First Lady of Ukraine. On 18 November, she appeared on the cover of the December issue of the Ukrainian edition of Vogue. In an interview with the magazine, she spoke about her first initiative, nutrition reform in Ukrainian schools.[6][7]

At Zelenska's initiative, the reform of the school nutrition system started with a new school menu developed by chef Ievgen Klopotenko of CultFood. The reform is a complex program: from improving the quality, nutrition of food, and food safety to the provision of resources to schools. The updated school menu has 160 items: it includes both traditional Ukrainian dishes and popular dishes from different cuisines of the world.[8][9] The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved new food standards, which took effect on 1 September 2021.[10]

In December 2019, during a speech at the third Ukrainian Women's Congress, Zelenska initiated Ukraine's accession to the G7 international initiative on gender equality, the Biarritz Partnership,[11] which was finalized in September 2020.[12] In November 2020 and September 2021, Zelenska spoke at the Fourth and Fifth Ukrainian Women's Congresses,[13][14] a platform that brings together Ukrainian and international public figures, politicians, government officials, experts, and opinion leaders for equal rights for women and men.

On 13 January 2020, Volodymyr Zelenskyy included Olena on the board of the Art Arsenal, headed by Minister of Culture Volodymyr Borodiansky.[15]

Olena Zelenska at the Fifth Ukrainian Women's Congress in 2021

In June 2020, Zelenska started an initiative to spread the Ukrainian language in the world and the introduction of Ukrainian-language audio guides in the most iconic places, particularly in the largest museums in the world.[16] As part of the initiative, 11 audio guides in Ukrainian were launched in 2020 in museums in Azerbaijan,[17] Austria,[18][19] Italy,[20][21] Latvia, Turkey,[22] and Montenegro,[23] as well as in two bus routes of Lithuania. In 2021, as part of Zelenska's initiative, Ukrainian-language audio guides were launched at the museum of Mount Vernon (the home of George Washington),[24][25] the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco in California,[26] Versailles,[27] the Sagrada Família, Frederiksborg Castle,[28] the Hundertwasserhaus, Galata Tower,[29] and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.[29]

Zelenska launched an online questionnaire in May 2020 about creating a barrier-free society,[30] in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.[31] In December 2020, the Ministry of Digital Transformation and United Nations Development Program in Ukraine said that they would create a convenient catalog of services for vulnerable groups as part of Zelenska's "Without Barriers" initiative,[32] to be posted on the state portal "Action" in the category "Action. Without barriers."[33]

Zelenska meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2022

Zelenska initiated the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in August 2021,[34] with a theme of "Soft power in new reality".[35]

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zelenska was described as Russia's target number two. In mid-March, she was in Ukraine at an undisclosed location. She released a statement highlighting the names of children killed during the invasion.[36] During the war, her efforts have focused on humanitarian aid, especially the evacuation of children with disabilities through Poland and the importing of incubators to hospitals in warzone areas.[37] Zelenska made her first public appearance since the start of the invasion in a 8 May 2022 meeting with Jill Biden in Uzhhorod. Biden's trip to Ukraine, which coincided with Mother's Day as celebrated in the US and in Ukraine, was not publicly disclosed in advance.[38]

In September 2022, Zelenska was present as an invitee to Ursula von der Leyen's third State of the European Union address, where the EU Commission President rendered homage to her courage during the war in Ukraine.[39]

On 2 October 2022, Zelenska visited Turkey, where she discussed the evacuation of Ukrainian orphans to Turkey with Turkish first lady Emine Erdoğan, met ecumenical patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and launched the Ukrainian corvette Hetman Ivan Mazepa.[40]

2022 visit to the United States

The First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, the US President Joe Biden and the US First Lady Jill Biden, the US Vice President Kamala Harris and the US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff

On 19 July 2022, Zelenska started her visit to the United States.[41] On the first day of the visit, Zelenska met with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Samantha Power, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. On the second day of the visit, she held a meeting with the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, at the White House.[42] Zelenska was also met on the porch of the White House by US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.[43] During the event, the National Program of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, the implementation of which started in Ukraine, was discussed.

Olena Zelenska during a speech in the US Congress

Zelenska also addressed the US Congress on the second day of her visit, becoming the first First Lady of another country to speak before the US Congress. She called for more military aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to protect the country from Russian invasion.[44][45]

Zelenska dedicated the beginning of her speech to the families and children impacted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[42] One of the images included was of a four-year-old Liza Dmytriyeva, who was killed in an air strike in the central-western city of Vinnytsia.[44] Zelenska also showed photos and videos of the victims of the Kremenchuk shopping mall attack and other numerous victims of Russian invasion.[46]

I appeal to all of you on the behalf of those who were killed, on behalf of those people who lost their arms and legs, on behalf of those who are still alive and well and those who wait for their families to come back from the front. I'm asking for something now I would never want to ask. I am asking for weapons. Weapons that would not be used to wage a war on somebody else's land, but to protect one's home and the right to wake up alive in that home.

— Olena Zelenska

During the trip, Zelenska also accepted the Dissident Human Rights Award at the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the entire Ukrainian people.[42][47]

Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

On 19 September 2022, Zelenska attended the state funeral in London of Queen Elizabeth II to pay her respects to the late monarch "on behalf of all Ukrainians".[48]

Personal life

Volodymyr Zelensky and Olena Zelenska at an Eastern Orthodox prayer service in Istanbul on 16 October 2020

Zelenska and her future husband were schoolmates, though they did not know each other at that time. They became acquainted much later- during their time at university.[4] The relationship between the couple developed gradually; they dated for eight years before getting married on 6 September 2003.[49][5] On 15 July 2004, their daughter Oleksandra was born. On 21 January 2013, Kiyashko (now Zelenska) gave birth to their son Kyrylo.[49] Although Volodymyr Zelensky is a secular Jew, his two children with his Gentile (non-Jewish) wife have been baptized, according to press reports.[50] The family lives in Kyiv.[51]

Zelenska was hospitalized for observation on 16 June 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19.[52] The infection was described as "moderate severity" that did not need mechanical ventilation.[53] She was discharged from the hospital on 3 July 2020 with continued domestic treatment for bilateral pneumonia.[54]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Template:Lang-uk
    Template:Lang-ru

References

  1. ^ Екатерина БЕЛОКОНОВА (16 May 2019). "Инаугурация Владимира Зеленского состоится 20 мая". KP.RU – сайт «Комсомольской правды». [KP dot RU] (= the online web site for "Komsomolskaya Pravda Publishing House JSC") (in Russian ... or, in 'some' language that uses a Cyrillic character set). Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Main facts about Ukraine's next first lady Olena Zelenska". KyivPost. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  3. ^ "СПІКЕРИ – Олена Зеленська – Перша леді України". Ukrainian Women's Congress. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Walker, Shaun (18 June 2022). "Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska on being Russia's target No 2: 'When you see their crimes, maybe they really are capable of anything'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b Rose, Hilary (15 March 2022). "Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's shy first lady, steps up". The Times. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  6. ^ Вікторія Коломієць (18 November 2019). "Перша леді вирішила зайнятися реформою харчування у школах". Hromadske.TV. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Как обезопасить школьные столовые: Зеленская приглашает присоединиться к онлайн-обучению" (in Russian). Ukrinform. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  8. ^ Презентовано План заходів з реформування системи шкільного харчування під патронатом Першої леді Олени Зеленської Archived 25 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. — 24 May 2021.
  9. ^ Без цукру, солі та сосисок. Олена Зеленська та шеф-кухар Євген Клопотенко презентували оновлене шкільне меню Archived 26 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. НВ. — 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ Як зміниться з вересня харчування в школах: розказують Олена Зеленська та Євген Клопотенко Archived 25 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. 1+1  — 26 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Гендерна рівність: перша леді ініціює приєднання України до ініціативи G7 (фото, відео)". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Уряд підтримав ініціативу Олени Зеленської щодо приєднання України до «Партнерства Біарріц»". Office of the President of Ukraine. 7 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Олена Зеленська відкрила другий день четвертого Українського жіночого конгресу". Офіс Президента України. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Olena Zelenska takes part in V Ukrainian Women's Congress". Office of the President of Ukraine. 16 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Зеленський ввів свою дружину до складу ради "Мистецького арсеналу"". РБК-Украина (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  16. ^ "В этом году за рубежом заработали 11 украиноязычных аудиогидов – супруга Президента" (in Russian). Укрінформ. 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  17. ^ "У Баку запустили аудіогід українською мовою". Gazeta.ua. 25 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  18. ^ Дар‘я Харченко (5 June 2020). "В одному з найбільших музеїв Австрії з'явився україномовний гід". НВ. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  19. ^ Костянтин Гончаров (16 September 2020). "Ще один австрійський музей "заговорив" українською мовою (відео)". УНІАН. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  20. ^ Катерина Денісова (27 December 2020). "У римському Колізеї з'явився аудіогід українською мовою". НВ. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  21. ^ Борис Ткачук (27 December 2020). "У римському Колізеї аудіогід тепер можна послухати й українською мовою". hromadske.ua. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  22. ^ Юлія Каранковська (17 October 2020). "Повторила образ: Олена Зеленська зустрілася з першою леді Туреччини". ТСН. Archived from the original on 23 February 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  23. ^ "В Морском музее Черногории появился аудиогид на украинском" (in Russian). Укрінформ. 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  24. ^ "The presidential couple visited Mount Vernon where Olena Zelenska presented a Ukrainian-language audio guide". President of Ukraine – Official website. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Володимир і Олена Зеленські презентували українськомовний гід в Музеї Джорджа Вашингтона". Ukrinform. 1 September 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  26. ^ "Olena Zelenska initiates signing of memorandum on creation of Ukrainian-language audio guides with Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco". President of Ukraine – Official website. 3 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Спорт-шик. Олену Зеленську розкритикували за кросівки у Версалі". NV. 19 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  28. ^ Uliana Kupnovytska (19 May 2021). "Леді Зе. Як Олена Зеленська справляється з обов'язками першої леді". Focus. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  29. ^ a b Ksyusha Savoskina (26 June 2021). "Перша леді країни. Чим займається дружина президента Олена Зеленська". Hromadske. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  30. ^ "Дружина Зеленського запросила українців до розмови" [Zelensky's wife invited Ukrainians to talk] (in Ukrainian). Ukrayinska Pravda. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  31. ^ Павло Калашник (6 May 2020). "Дружина Зеленського запросила українців на «велику розмову про безбар'єрність»". hromadske.ua. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  32. ^ "По инициативе Зеленской в «Дії» будет раздел для незащищенных групп населения" (in Russian). Укрінформ. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  33. ^ "За ініціативою Олени Зеленської на порталі «Дія» створять новий розділ з послугами для вразливих груп населення". Офіс Президента України. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  34. ^ "In Kyiv, the first ladies from different countries launched an international platform for solving humanitarian problems around the world". Office of the President of Ukraine. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen starts". Ukrinform. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Ukraine's first lady, decrying deaths of children amid Russia's invasion, pleads for international support". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  37. ^ Amanpour, Christiane; Lyons, Emmet (13 April 2022). "'The number one target is all of us'". CNN. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  38. ^ Detrow, Scott (8 May 2022). "Jill Biden visits Ukraine, making her first solo trip to a combat zone as first lady". NPR. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  39. ^ "2022 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen". ec.europa.eu. European Commission. 14 September 2022.
  40. ^ "First Lady holds number of meetings during her visit to Republic of Turkey". Presidential Office of Ukraine. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  41. ^ ""Для мене це був іспит, я його склала": Олена Зеленська про історичний візит до США". 24tv.ua. Channel 24. 21 July 2022.
  42. ^ a b c Amy B Wang (20 July 2022). "Ukraine's first lady asks Congress for more arms to counter Russia". The Washington Post.
  43. ^ Viktoria Hordiyenko (20 July 2022). "Перша леді України зустрілася з президентом США Байденом і його дружиною у Вашингтоні (фото, відео)". unian.ua. UNIAN.
  44. ^ a b "Ukraine war has made my son want to be a soldier – Zelenska". bbc.com. BBC News. 20 July 2022.
  45. ^ Dan Bilefsky, Stephanie Lai, Jim Tankersley (20 July 2022). "Ukraine's first lady tells the U.S. Congress that 'Russia is destroying our people.'". The New York Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ "Ukraine's first lady appeals to members of Congress for continued support in fight against Russian invasion". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo! News. 20 July 2022.
  47. ^ Viktoria Hirko (20 July 2022). "Уперше відзначили народ: українці отримали премію Dissident Human Rights Award". fakty.com.ua. Fakty ІCTV.
  48. ^ "Ukraine's first lady attends funeral of Queen Elizabeth II as war rages in her country: "She wished us better times"". CBS News. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  49. ^ a b "ru:Зеленский Владимир" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  50. ^ "Volodymyr Zelensky".
  51. ^ Carroll, Oliver (19 June 2022). ""Our son wants to be a soldier": an interview with Ukraine's first lady". 1843. The Economist. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  52. ^ Ukraine leader cancels meetings, trips after wife tests positive for coronavirus Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (12 June 2020)
  53. ^ Ukraine president's wife hospitalized with moderate COVID-19 Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (16 June 2020)
  54. ^ "Zelensky's wife overcame the coronavirus, but problems remain". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
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Honorary titles
Preceded by First Lady of Ukraine
2019–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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