In the heart of Kyiv, behind antitank blocks and armed checkpoints, Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, embodies a quiet resilience that belies the extraordinary pressures of life at the epicentre of a nation at war. Speaking to Times UK, Zelenska reveals the personal and national burdens she carries, from the abduction of Ukrainian children to the cultural battles waged on the world stage.
The presidential compound on Bankova Street, a Soviet-era reproduction of 19th-century buildings, serves as both office and fortress. Military personnel oversee every corner, escort journalists through metal doors and sandbagged lobbies, and even accompany them to the bathroom. Yet within this tense environment, Zelenska, a former TV scriptwriter thrust into the role of a wartime first lady, has become a symbol of domestic resilience. “I feel responsibility for everything, for everyone,” she admits. “And this feeling… never lets me relax or breathe freely.”
Since the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, her role has expanded beyond ceremonial duties. While President Volodymyr Zelensky travels the world lobbying for arms and sanctions, Zelenska focuses on the home front: rescuing abducted children, supporting 150,000 people with life-changing injuries, and overseeing education for children in frontline towns. “We help our people to live with consequences of the war,” she tells Times UK, highlighting the daily struggle of civilians under constant threat from missiles and drones.
Kyiv’s residents have adapted to a new normal of “air raid alerts” and shelter routines. Even in moments of apparent calm, anxiety remains pervasive. Young journalists, for instance, check Telegram each morning to ensure loved ones survived the night. “Just to be alive is a privilege,” says Anna, a 28-year-old military journalist. Meanwhile, children face disrupted schooling and prolonged psychological stress from abductions and ongoing military conflict. Zelenska personally oversees their re-adaptation upon return to Ukraine, recognizing the profound trauma endured.
Amid these challenges, Zelenska also navigates the pressures of international diplomacy and cultural advocacy. She has corresponded with former US first lady Melania Trump to discuss abducted children and continues to champion Ukraine’s place on the global stage. Yet not all cultural exchanges meet her approval. She expresses dismay over the Royal Opera House welcoming Russian soprano Anna Netrebko, a decision she views as a manipulation of soft power by Russia. “Cultural expropriation works, and unfortunately we let it happen,” Zelenska says, underscoring that war is not only fought on battlefields but also through the global influence of art and culture.
Despite the weight of her responsibilities, Zelenska seeks moments of normality. Physical exercise, books, and small routines provide brief respite from the relentless demands of wartime life. She admits to Times UK that her greatest longing is for the simple freedom of driving alone, a ritual now impossible amid the ongoing conflict. Dreams of losing control while driving, she explains, reflect the uncontrollable circumstances of life under war.
Through all of this, Zelenska remains a figure of quiet dignity and profound empathy. Her days are punctuated by sirens, shelter alarms, and the knowledge that any moment may bring tragedy. Yet she also bears witness to resilience, courage, and the enduring spirit of Ukrainian culture—from music festivals that defy air raid warnings to the everyday lives of Kyiv’s citizens. “In war there is nothing good, nothing beautiful,” she says. “But everyone wants this war to stop.”
