Photo: BBC
Ukraine is in crisis, and many stand with them to end the war, with their first lady encouraging resistance.
First Lady Olena Zelenska dedicated an open letter to the world’s media Tuesday, speaking about what she called the “mass murder of Ukrainian civilians.”
Zelenska has been tirelessly expressing the state of Ukraine on social media for weeks now. However, none have been outright thus far, not until her latest post, which concludes with the rallying exclamation: “We will win. Because of our unity. Unity towards love for Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!”
With her spouse as the president who has stood as a symbol for Ukraine in their struggle against Russia, the 44-year-old showed her support through her protests on her social media platform, which boosted international awareness of their nation’s dilemma.
When Russia first attacked Ukraine, President Zelensky released a video statement claiming that an enemy sabotage group had infiltrated Kyiv and was targeting him specifically, with his family being second on their list.
For safety, the location of his wife and two children are secret. Nonetheless, Zelenska has actively participated in social media and encouraged defiance against Russian forces. She garnered 2.4 million followers on Instagram alone for her efforts.
The first lady posted the open letter on Tuesday on several of her social media platforms and the President’s official website, as a reply to what she stated was the “overwhelming number of media outlets from around the world” that had called for an interview with her.
She started the heartfelt message, headlines “I testify,” by recounting the affairs of February 24.
She wrote: “Tanks crossed the Ukrainian border, planes entered our airspace, missile launchers surrounded our cities.”
“Despite assurances from Kremlin-backed propaganda outlets, who call this a ‘special operation’—it is, in fact, the mass murder of Ukrainian civilians.”
Zelenska detailed the terrifying and devastating child losses, stressing the horror of babies born in bomb shelters or roads flooded with refugees.
Zelenska met her husband in high school, according to a website of the Ukrainian Women’s Congress. She graduated from Kryvyi Rih Economic Institute with an architecture degree.
They then tied the knot in 2003 and, a year later, had their daughter Oleksandra. Kyrylo, their son, was born in 2013.
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