Ukraine's first lady shares how war has affected her family emotionally.

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine's first lady, recently opened up about the war in Ukraine and the impact it has had on her family in a rare interview with the BBC. She described how her children are struggling to see a future, and how her husband, Volodymyr Zelensky, was thrust into the limelight as a 21st century war leader.

Olena and Volodymyr are childhood sweethearts who worked together as a comedy troupe, and the war has had a major impact on their family life. Olena said, "This may be a bit selfish, but I need my husband, not a historical figure, by my side."

The reality of their lives during the war has been restrictive and this has especially impacted their children. Olena said, "It pains me to watch that my kids don't plan anything. At such an age, young people. My daughter is 19. They dream of travelling, of new sensations, emotions. She does not have such an opportunity."

The war has had a significant effect on people and goods in the EU, with fuel supplies, fuel prices, and logistical challenges with border crossings and airspace restrictions. For many Ukrainians, their lives have been turned upside down and they have been forced to flee their homes.

Olena also described how her own life has completely changed since the war began. She said, "There are limitations in time in what you can allow yourself, they exist, and we somehow try to live within them." Despite the emotional turmoil, she believes her husband is strong and determined enough to get through the war.

The first lady is now focusing on helping those who have been psychologically impacted by the war, with a focus on mental health and resilience. She said, "No one can know what awaits for them. After all, no one could have imagined that in the 21st century, that such a war would be unleashed in the middle of Europe, that it would be so cruel. A bloody war. So, I have never imagined that I would be in this role at this time."

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]