Why Ukrainian First Lady’s Plane Heading To Japan Stopped At Jaipur: Who Is Zelenskyy’s Wife Olena?

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 16:22 IST

The refuelling request was pre-approved by the Foreign Ministry, which directed the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on August 1 to accord necessary protocol

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska. (AP)

A plane carrying Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska – the First Lady of Ukraine and wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – and Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha to Japan on Sunday made a pitstop at the Jaipur Airport for refuelling.

The refuelling request was pre-approved by the Foreign Ministry, which directed the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security on August 1 to accord necessary protocol. The aircraft landed in Jaipur at around 6:30 am, NDTV reported.

The 23-member delegation included Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, and Ukraine’s Minister for Economic Affairs Oleksii Sobolev, said the report. They were served light refreshments during the stop, where they met officials from the Ukrainian Embassy in Delhi, who were in Jaipur to welcome them, the report said.

The delegation was not required to clear immigration and resumed its journey at approximately 8:15 am.

Who is Olena Zelenska?

Olena Zelenska, born on February 6, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, studied architecture and urban construction at Kryvyi Rih University. She met her future husband, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during her university years and married him in 2003. The couple has two children, Oleksandra and Kyrylo. Before becoming First Lady, Olena worked as a screenwriter at Kvartal 95, the comedy production company co-founded by Zelenskyy. She was known to be private and initially hesitant about the political spotlight.

As Ukraine’s First Lady since May 20, 2019, Olena launched initiatives focused on children’s nutrition in schools, gender equality, and domestic violence prevention. She also pushed for accessibility in cultural spaces, promoting Ukrainian-language audio guides in museums worldwide. One of her major initiatives was the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, a forum for international cooperation on humanitarian issues.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Zelenska became a key figure in Ukraine’s wartime humanitarian response. She launched the national mental health campaign “How Are You?" to train Ukrainians in psychological first aid. She also oversaw efforts to evacuate sick children, deliver medical aid, and assist war-affected civilians. Despite being considered a high-value target, she remained in Ukraine with her children during the crisis. In 2022, she founded the Olena Zelenska Foundation, aimed at rebuilding Ukraine’s human capital through healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid.

Zelenska has been a strong international voice for Ukraine, addressing forums like the U.S. Congress and World Economic Forum, and advocating for continued global support. She has emphasized mental health and civilian resilience in war. Her work has earned her global recognition, including being named to the BBC 100 Women list (2022), TIME’s 100 Most Influential People (2023), and recipient of CEPA’s 2024 Humanitarian Impact Award.

With Agency Inputs

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