Even as the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska relates to the Ukrainian people, as her position does not shield her from the same hardships the rest of the country faces daily, including power outages and frequent air raid alerts following large-scale Russian attacks.
In an interview with the We Are Ukraine YouTube channel, Zelenska explained that power outages are a regular part of life for her, just like for all Ukrainians.
"Of course [the power goes out]. We live in the same energy system," she said, as cited by Ukrainska Pravda.
"This year, it's a bit easier because I have a generator running. It's loud, but it helps."
Reflecting on the early attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, Zelenska shared how her family adjusted.
“We had candlelit dinners, read books, and played board games. We went to bed early,” she recalled, describing those moments with her children as unexpectedly peaceful despite the circumstances.
Zelenska also spoke about her experience during air raids.
“I am sure it's essential to get down to the shelter. I do so. At night, every time,” she said. Zelenska explained that she wakes her children and gathers the family pets before heading to the basement for safety.
She acknowledged the discomfort of such situations.
“Sadly, it's very inconvenient, we are exhausted, the children are sleepy. But it saves lives,” Zelenska stressed, noting that casualties often occur when people don't have access to a safe shelter.
