President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena’s Love Story: From High School Sweethearts to Protective Parents
From adolescent friends and artistic partners, they have transformed into one of the most well-known presidential couples in the world.
The connection between First Lady Olena Zelenska and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy started years before their lives came into the public eye.
After meeting in their hometown as youngsters, the two progressively developed a relationship based on respect, humor, and a common goal.
From High School Halls to Partnerships for Life
Between Zelenskyy and Zelenska, what began as a passing acquaintance grew into something more.
They first fell in love as high school students in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in southeast Ukraine.
At first, Zelenskyy was enthralled with Zelenska’s looks, but as they started conversing, their bond deepened. “You go from liking someone to loving them at that point. “For me, that’s what happened,” the president said.
The pair found a connection that would influence a lot of their journey together: a common sense of humor. Zelenska said, “I think humor was this mutual chemistry between us.”
Later, Zelenska thought about how she frequently acted as his harshest critic of his jokes. After high school, they each followed distinct academic trajectories.
While Zelenskyy majored in law and Zelenska studied architecture, their paths eventually crossed again in a surprising way.
When Laughter Became a Life Calling Zelenskyy’s pastime of comedy started to lead to new opportunities.
The duo shifted their focus from their undergraduate coursework to satirical humor. Zelenska, though, wasn’t sure if making humor her full-time job was realistic.
Having already achieved notable success in national competitions, the comedy troupe was able to establish stability. Zelenska observed, “So there was a good foundation,” The foundation for the future creative empire was established by this early acknowledgment.
Using wit and grit to build an empire
The couple founded Kvartal 95, a production company named after their hometown, in 2003 with the help of close friends. It developed into one of the top entertainment producers in Ukraine and other Russian-speaking nations over time.
Zelenska was one of the few female writers who worked behind the scenes on the company’s satirical show “Evening Kvartal,” which Zelenskyy became the face of.
Zelenska accepted the challenge, even though she was frequently the only female in the writers’ room. She felt that even though the comedy industry provided equal opportunities, few women dared to enter it, and it took guts to do so.
The couple’s creative collaboration flourished through “Evening Kvartal,” where they combined wit and insight with humor to make social and political commentary.
Film and television producer Alexander Rodnyansky said “Evening Kvartal” was unique in the former Soviet Union as the only theater of political satire.
Zelenskyy and Rodnyansky have been friends for many years, and his son later worked as an economic advisor in Zelenskyy’s administration.
Rodnyansky, who was in charge of the Ukrainian television network that broadcast the program during prime time, said Zelenskyy’s work had a big impact on the social and political climate of the nation.
From President on Screen to the Actual Thing
In addition to creating a prosperous career, Zelenskyy and Zelenska developed a friendship based on respect, humor, and a common goal. Later on, this spirit would help them get through the difficulties of leadership and public life.
Zelenskyy’s fame increased even more in 2015 after he appeared in the TV show “Servant of the People.” He played an anti-corruption high school teacher who became the unexpected president of Ukraine.
A few years later, fiction turned into reality when Zelenskyy won the presidency by defeating Petro Poroshenko.
This was the businessman who had led the country since the post-2014 Maidan elections that steered Ukraine toward Europe and away from Russia.
Rodnyansky recalled what Zelenskyy told him just before he won, “He said, ‘It’s going to be just one term, we will try to change the country for the better, and then I’ll go and I’ll become a producer again and I’ll do the movie based on my experience and I’ll win the Oscar.’ That’s what he said to me. I was laughing.”
Zelenskyy was elected President of Ukraine on April 21, 2019, and officially sworn in as the country’s sixth president a month later, on May 20. His victory marked the beginning of a new chapter not only for Ukraine but also for his family.
A First Lady’s Private Grief and Public Strength
The transition to public life brought major changes for Zelenska and their two children — daughter Oleksandra and son Kyrylo — whose lives shifted dramatically as they adapted to the demands and scrutiny that come with the presidency.
When Zelenskyy announced his decision to run for office, Zelenska was upset and initially struggled to accept it. She was aware that the move would transform their family’s life in profound and lasting ways.
She supported his choice but understood that the transition would bring significant challenges and responsibilities for them both. Zelenska reflected on life before the presidency and the war, recalling those simpler years with fondness.
She attended an Adele concert in Lisbon, took road trips with friends to Kraków, and had spontaneous weekends in Barcelona.
Family movie nights were a favorite tradition, with “Forrest Gump” watched countless times and “Legends of the Fall” and “The Bridges of Madison County” among her personal favorites. Like many in Ukraine, she continues to long for the return of a peaceful, ordinary life.
A Family Torn Apart by War
The ongoing war has profoundly affected Olena Zelenska and her family, just as it has countless others across Ukraine.
Speaking about her children often stirs strong emotions in her, as the constant uncertainty and fear brought by the conflict have left a lasting emotional impact on them as well.
“We don’t live together with my husband, the family is separated. We have the opportunity to see each other, but not as often as we would like. My son misses his father,” she shared.
Zelenska continued, “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.” She added that their lives are now defined by certain limits, and the family has learned to live within them.
Steadfast Through the Storm
As they continue to hope for peace, Zelenska has expressed confidence in her husband’s abilities. She said he has the energy, determination, and resolve to see the country through the war.
“I believe in him. And I support him. I know that he has enough strength. For any other individual I know, I suppose, it would be far difficult this position. He really is a really strong and resilient person. And this resilience is what we all need right now,” she declared.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also commended his wife as a caring mother who embraces her duty as First Lady with passion and care. He spoke passionately about her compassion, their shared history, and the virtues that characterize her.
“Of course she is my love. But she is my greatest friend. Olena actually is my best buddy. She is also a nationalist and she truly loves Ukraine. It’s accurate. And she is a terrific mother,” the president gushed.
Meanwhile, when questioned about her life today, Zelenska said she lives much like most Ukrainians, bonded by the shared wish for peace.
She acknowledged that, like any wife and mother, she always worries about her husband’s safety while doing everything she can to safeguard her children.
