“The 2nd Target of the Russians”: who and what is known about the First Lady of Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought some characters to the fore. Alongside Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky was Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelensky, who was in the news around the world.

Women’s rights activist Olena, who was named “Target No. 2” of the Russian government by her husband, started to draw attention with her stance on social networks in the face of conflicts.

He also set up a Telegram channel after the Russian invasion of his country, which he dedicates himself to teaching “how to live and act in time of war”. But after all, who is Olena Zelensky and why has she come to the fore so much in recent weeks?

Architect and comedian life

Olena Zelensky was an architect and devoted herself to comedy before becoming Ukraine’s first lady like her husband. By working as a screenwriter, she first opposed Zelensky’s candidacy for the country’s presidency and learned that her husband was engaged in political debate over social networks.

Despite this, she has always shown support for her husband by embracing the role of First Lady on the global stage by accompanying his wife to engagements and using her influence and position to advocate for causes like child nurturing and gender equality – something similar to Michelle Obama’s. strategy, former First Lady of the United States. .

Olena came to the fore even more by staying in the country with her children during the Russian occupation and helping her husband and the Ukrainian people with the messages of support and support she made on her social media account. Strengthening her anti-war speech and position, she gained the support of Pope Francis, who thickened the First Lady’s speech calling for an end to the conflict.

Olena even wrote a letter thanking the pope for caring for war-wounded children at a children’s hospital run by the Catholic Church in Rome.

Objection to the media and behind the scenes of the war

But that wasn’t the only time Olena was in the limelight. His posts on social media, especially Instagram and Telegram, have attracted great attention since the beginning of the war.

In March, on International Women’s Day, the First Lady paid tribute not only to the women who fought in the war, but also to everyone who “healed, saved, fed and continued to do their usual business – in pharmacies, in stores, in stores.” transport, in public services, so that life survives and wins”.

He made an emotional appeal to the international media, urging everyone to share the “horrible truth” about how Russian forces brutally murdered children in their country.

It was Olena who reported on the interruption of medical care and treatments in her country, using her networks to relay information about the conflict. That’s when she said: “This war is being waged against the civilian population, not just by bombing”.

The First Lady also thanks her through her channels for the support she received from other countries and the support they gave to her people. As well as asking the world press not to forget about them and not stop following the conflicts.

“Keep showing what happened here and showing the truth. All the evidence is very important in the information war waged by the Russian Federation.”