Olena Zelenska is the First Lady of Ukraine.

Olena Zelenska became the First Lady of Ukraine in May 2019 and was thrust into the global spotlight when Russia invaded Ukraine. During the war, her efforts have focused on advocating for humanitarian aid and for the children of Ukraine. Her first public address was on Mothers’ Day, when she spoke alongside US First Lady Jill Biden at a shelter for the displaced in Lviv. She leads multiple organizations dedicated to restoring the human capital of Ukraine. Her “Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen” has evolved into a global network to evacuate Ukrainian children needing cancer treatment and provide opportunities for education. The Olena Zelenska Foundation deals with issues like mental health and domestic violence, which are often exacerbated by war. In July 2022, Zelenska visited the United States to meet with senior officials. She was twice given a standing ovation during her address to the US Congress, where she appealed ” on the behalf of those who were killed, on behalf of those people who lost their arms and legs, on behalf of those who are still alive and well and those who wait for their families to come back from the front.”