Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska reveals how Russia invasion took toll on family

The Ukrainian first lady has given a rare TV interview with the President revealing how Russia’s invasion affected their family.

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska has given a rare TV interview with her husband President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The rare appearance marks only the second time the couple have been seen together since Russia’s invasion, with the 44-year-old screenwriter hold up in an undisclosed location for her safety.

Speaking to Ukraine’s RADA TV, Mrs Zelenska, who has two children with the world leader, told how her family was separated by the war.

“Our family was torn apart, as every other Ukrainian family,” she said.

“Nobody takes my husband away from me, not even the war. But, yes, he lives for his job, we almost don’t get to see him.

“We didn’t see him at all for two and a half months. We only spoke on the phone with each other.

“Now, we had a few occasions to see each other. And I am also very thankful for this occasion, because (this interview) makes us spend time together.”

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"Nobody takes my husband away from me, not even the war"

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska gives rare interview with husband Volodymyr Zelensky

https://t.co/LHuIBsRscApic.twitter.com/6Lv964gHkk

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 22, 2022

During the joint interview, Mrs Zelenska recalled waking up to “weird noises” as the Russian conflict began. She noticed her husband was not by her side and found him in the next room, putting on a suit.

“I asked him: ‘What was going on?’ And he said: ‘It has started’,” she said.

“I can’t describe the emotions – anxiety, stupor. He told me this and left.

“After that, we didn’t see each other for a long time.”

Olena Zelenska and Volodymyr Zelensky share two children together: Aleksandra Zelenskaya, Kiril Zelenskiy. Picture: Instagram/@olenazelenska_official

US First Lady Jill Biden offers flowers to Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska in Uzhhorod during a surprise visit to Ukraine. Picture: Susan Walsh / Pool / AFP

The First Lady and her children, Aleksandra, 17, and Kiril, 9, were evacuated out of Kyiv.

It is unclear when Ms Zelenska returned to Kyiv, but earlier this month she met with First Lady Jill Biden in the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod.

Mrs Biden’s surprise visit not only marked a rare solo trip for the spouse of a sitting US president into an active war zone, but was also the first time Mrs Zelenska was seen in public since the invasion began.

Mrs Zelenska has supported her husband from afar and said in an interview last month with a Polish news outlet that the war has only shown to the world the kind of man Mr Zelensky has always been.

“The war has not changed him,” she said. “He has always been a man you can rely on. A man who will never fail. Who will hold out until the end.

“It’s just that now the whole world has seen what may not have been clear to everyone before,” she added.

– with Fox News