Olena Zelenska
Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska (Ukrainian: Олена Володимирівна Зеленська; née Kiyashko (Ukrainian: Кіяшко); born 6 February 1978) is the current First Lady of Ukraine as the wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky.[2]
Olena Zelenska Олена Зеленська | |
---|---|
First Lady of Ukraine | |
Assumed role 20 May 2019[1] | |
President | Volodymyr Zelensky |
Preceded by | Maryna Poroshenko |
Personal details | |
Born | Olena Volodymyrivna Kiyashko 6 February 1978 Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Kryvyi Rih National University |
Occupation |
|
Life and work
Olena Kiyashko (maiden name) was born in Kryvyi Rih on 6 February 1978. She and her future husband were schoolmates, but they were not acquainted. Zelensky once said that he knew many of her classmates, but not Olena. They got acquainted much later — when Olena 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 in 2003. Two years later, their daughter Oleksandra was born. On January 21, 2013, Olena gave birth to their son Kyrylo.[3]
Zelenska did not do much work as an architect. Instead she wrote texts for Kvartal 95. In her youth, she often accompanied Zelensky at performances and rehearsals, then gradually helping in the preparation of team acts. Later she became a full-fledged writer.[4]
In December 2019, Olena Zelenska was included in the list of the 100 most influential Ukrainians by Focus magazine, taking the 30th place.[5]
On 12 June 2020, Zelenska announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19.[6] Four days later she was admitted to hospital for observation with the COVID-19 infection being described as "moderate severity" that did not need mechanical ventilation.[7] Zelenska was dismissed from hospital on 3 July 2020 with continued domestic treatment for bilateral pneumonia.[8]
References
- правды», Екатерина БЕЛОКОНОВА | Сайт «Комсомольской (May 16, 2019). "Инаугурация Владимира Зеленского состоится 20 мая". KP.RU - сайт «Комсомольской правды».
- "UNIAN: Main facts about Ukraine's next first lady Olena Zelenska | KyivPost - Ukraine's Global Voice". KyivPost. April 24, 2019.
- "Ukraine's next First Lady: Main facts about Olena Zelenska". www.unian.info.
- Prengel, Kate (April 22, 2019). "Olena Zelenska, Volodymyr Zelensky's Wife: 5 Fast Facts".
- "100 самых влиятельных украинцев". Focus (Ukrainian magazine). 2019-12-23.
- Ukraine leader cancels meetings, trips after wife tests positive for coronavirus, Reuters (12 June 2020)
- Ukraine president's wife hospitalized with moderate COVID-19, Reuters (16 June 2020)
- "Zelensky's wife overcame the coronavirus, but problems remain". Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 3 July 2020.
Honorary titles | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Maryna Poroshenko |
First Lady of Ukraine 2019–present |
Succeeded by |