She is well aware that her husband's name, Volodymyr Zelensky and hers are on the Kremlin's "death list".
However, Ukraine's "First Lady", although she admits that this constant death threat causes her fear, draws courage, she says, from the strength of the Ukrainian army and her love for her country.
In an interview with the German newspaper Die Zeit, Olena Zelenska reveals her true face and talks about her relationship with her two children.
"Sometimes everything we experience feels like a nightmare. I want to wake up, but this is reality. It's the scary truth," claims the 44-year-old "First Lady" of the war-torn country, adding. But then I remember what the invaders have already done to our country, how many defenseless children have been killed and entire families have been wiped out. The Russians want to put pressure on my husband by threatening our family. The plan is realistic, so we are very careful."
She knows that other Ukrainians are less protected than her family. For many days, these people had nothing to eat or drink. They cannot come out of the basements because they will be shot in the street. I am afraid to read the diary of a mother from Mariupol writing to her son: "I have one day of life left."
The wife of the Ukrainian president draws courage from what she says is helping millions of her fellow citizens who are experiencing war in their own skin.
"I have confidence in the Ukrainian people, I believe we will win, I hope for a bright future and I love my country," she says.
As a mother, she finds it horrible that instead of talking to her children about travel or school trips, their conversations include bombs, missiles and freedom.
"It is unacceptable that children have to wake up to the sound of sirens and run to hide in shelters.
Our daughter, who is older than our son, searches social media information on her own and understands everything just like I do. We talk about what's going on. Our younger son also realizes that Ukraine is fighting for its survival. He is drawing war scenes which I find awful. I wish he could paint something else. I dream of the day when he will draw Batman and Spiderman again," explains Olena Zelanska.
She was, however, surprised that her children showed organization and discipline in the first days of the Russian invasion.
For Zelanska, informing herself about the war is the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning and the last thing before she goes to sleep.[BR]"Quality sleep is now a luxury, especially after the news I read at night," she says."
"When the war started, I created a Telegram channel that gathers verified sources of information. It features government websites and websites of international institutions, where any Ukrainian can find reliable information there. The posts of Ukrainian volunteers give me strength, as well as the support of friends from all over Europe. But in such moments, in order to be able to sleep with a clear conscience, you have to act," he said.
Source: Proto Thema
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
