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

(1978-02-07) 7 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
OccupationScreenwriter

Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska (née Kiyashko; Ukrainian: Олена Володимирівна Зеленська (Кіяшко); born 7 February 1978) is a Ukrainian screenwriter who is the First Lady of Ukraine as the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[2] In December 2019, Zelenska was included in the list of the 100 most influential Ukrainians by Focus magazine, taking 30th place.[3]

Early life and career

Olena Kiyashko was born in Kryvyi Rih on 6 February 1978.[4] Zelenska studied architecture at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Kryvyi Rih National University. She became a writer for Kvartal 95.[5]

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

In June 2020, Olena 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, in particular - 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]

Olena Zelenska at the Fifth Ukrainian Women's Congress

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 unknown 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 import of incubators to hospitals in warzone areas.[37] Zelenska made her first public appearance since the start of the invasion in a May 8 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]

Personal life

Zelenska and her future husband were schoolmates, but they were not acquainted. Zelenskyy once said that he knew many of her classmates, but not Kiyashko herself. They got acquainted much later — when Kiyashko was studying at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Kryvyi Rih National University.

The relationship between the couple developed gradually — they dated for eight years before getting married on 6 September 2003. On 15 July 2004, their daughter Oleksandra was born. On 21 January 2013, Kiyashko now Zelenska gave birth to their son Kyrylo.[39]

Zelenska was hospitalized for observation on 16 June 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19.[40] The infection was described as "moderate severity" that did not need mechanical ventilation.[41] She was discharged from the hospital on 3 July 2020 with continued domestic treatment for bilateral pneumonia.[42]

References

  1. ^ Екатерина БЕЛОКОНОВА (16 May 2019). "Инаугурация Владимира Зеленского состоится 20 мая". KP.RU - сайт «Комсомольской правды». 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. ^ "100 самых влиятельных украинцев". Focus. 23 December 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Prengel, Kate (22 April 2019). "Olena Zelenska, Volodymyr Zelensky's Wife: 5 Fast Facts". Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  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. ^ "ru:Зеленский Владимир" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  40. ^ Ukraine leader cancels meetings, trips after wife tests positive for coronavirus Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (12 June 2020)
  41. ^ Ukraine president's wife hospitalized with moderate COVID-19 Archived 26 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters (16 June 2020)
  42. ^ "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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