Olena Zelenska, wife of Vladimir Zelensky, has recently opened up about her experiences in hiding from the Russian infantry as it destroys her country and how it has affected the mental health of herself and her family.
On the 24th of February 2022, the Russian army, commanded by Vladimir Putin, was ordered to commence a full-scale invasion against the Ukrainian nation. This invasion was a result of years of tension between the two nations as Ukrainewas closerand closer to being a member of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which would put Russia at risk of being defenseless against the powerful alliance. In 2014, Russia’s leader acquired the Crimean peninsula at the southern end of Ukraine and since the mobilization of troops in that area, tensions in Ukraine and Russia have been in place. Fear has been everywhere for the past 8 years and in 2022, it finally came to a close and the fears became reality as Ukraine had become a warzone. Government leaders in the country all went into hiding during this time, but leaders such as Vladimir Zelensky stayed to defend his country. However, his wife and children went into hiding to escape the deadly warzone. In an interview with BBC, Olena Zelenska opens up about her experience as a figure of authority in a war torn country for the past year.
“This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side. But we stay strong, we have strength both emotionally and physically. And I am sure we will handle it together,” Olena Zelenska on the war in Ukraine and how her life has completely changed course over the past years.
In the interview, Zelenska recalled the initial months of terror in Ukraine as being filled with “a constant feelingof adrenaline,” and as time passed, it was necessary to come to grips with reality and slow down and assess the situation at hand. She eventually left from hiding and was immediately blasted with attention from the media as a former comedic script-writer was now a beacon of information on the perilous situation in Ukraine. Since then, she has traveled to different countries to speak of the horrific events occurring in her home land, which should not be forgotten.
“Otherwise, we are risking a never-ending war and this is not something we would like to have,” Olena Zelenska said in an interview. “Don’t get used to our pain.” Her words of encouragement and her tales of struggle and perseverance have been a signal to not give up.
Zelenska’s struggles as first lady of Ukraine are evident as she has revealed what is happening in Ukraine. She stated that her children, once loving and social adolescents, barely plan anything or talk to their friends and they miss their father deeply. His absence and the present fear of attack at any moment have severely harmed these children. Air raid sirens are a frequent occurrence and she and all Ukrainian citizens are used to it. She has had to raise her growing children alone for the past year as being in the top of the list of the Kremlin’s targets. She is constantly fearful for the safety and protection of her family and husband, who is fighting in the front lines against the Russians each day. Her separation from her husband has taught her to be independent and has made her stronger than ever, however, it has caused extreme paranoia and panic.
“There are so many of them that these cannot be isolated cases, this is deliberate intimidation. When you tell the world that our Prosecutor General’s Office is investigating 231 cases of sexual violence committed by the Russian military, that there are 13 children among the victims: 12 girls and one boy, and that the youngest victim was only 4 years old, you see sheer horror in the eyes of the audience. But this is not enough. There must be punishment. Victims will not start testifying en masse until they see that there is justice,” Zelenska said in an interview.
The First lady spoke about more than just the destruction caused by the military, but the harm against the citizens and children in the country. She spoke about the cases of abduction, which surpass 19,000 cases and rising each day. She has also spoken of the mental anguish Ukranians are enduring constantly in the war zone. Zelenska claims that there is a huge need for psychologists and psychiatrists and doctors are incredibly valuable at this time. The medical system in Ukraine is improving to the point that the specialists are incredibly well equipped, but are in need for more help.
However, the First Lady has stated that the Ukrainian culture is now stronger than ever and as a result of the war, the people are now closer together. She has stated that this terrible situation has made the population bond in a unique way to survive as one large family. Ukrainians are now more diplomatic and peaceful than ever, but have a strong sense of pride for their country. Ultimately, culture has been a strong point in society for a long time as it is what brings people together, which is reflected in Ukraine in the modern day. The First lady has had a remarkable sense of determination during these years and she says that the key to Ukraine’s prosperity and strength to continue for the past year has been culture among the citizens of this nation. “Culture makes us who we are. If you destroy culture, it will be easier to destroy people. For a long time, numerous manifestations of our culture were considered Russian, it was colonization. Now we are decolonizing our culture. Unfortunately, the world knows little about it. We are fixing this now. We have a lot to show the world to tell them who we are, what we love, what we think about,”
References
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Chatelain, R. (2022, June 2). Ukrainian First Lady to Americans: ‘Don’t Get Used to Our Pain.’ Spectrum News NY1. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/international/2022/06/02/ukrainian-first-lady-to-americans—don-t-get-used-to-our-pain-
Olena Zelenska: It’s Not Enough for the World to Be Aware of the Violence of Russians Against Ukrainian Children – Criminals Must Be Punished. (n.d.). https://odessa-journal.com/olena-zelenska-its-not-enough-for-the-world-to-be-aware-of-the-violence-of-russians-against-ukrainian-children–criminals-must-be-punished
President’s Wife News — Official Web Site of the President of Ukraine. (n.d.). Official Website of the President of Ukraine. https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/wife
Redirect notice. (n.d.). https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.atlanticcouncil.org%2Fblogs%2Fukrainealert%2Fthe-russia-ukraine-war-in-2024%2F&psig=AOvVaw0KGMhDQcprLTIDi-N0ub7V&ust=1697822298481000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCKCb6IvPgoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Ukraine’s First Lady: Women Bearing the Brunt of the War. (2023, January 15). POLITICO. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/15/ukraine-zelenska-women-families-war-00077990
