Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska listed in Time's 100 Most Influential People

Amid raging Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian first Ly Olena Zelenska me it to Time’s 100 Most Influential People list of year 2023. highly decorated list included human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Oleksandra Matviichuk. magazine which has been publishing list since 2004, shared list of 100 most influential people around world on April 13. wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been quite active in providing humanitarian aid amid Russia-Ukraine war. In past, Zelenska has also dressed United Nations and or international platforms and discussed plight of Ukrainian citizens in conflict-stricken country. 

“A writer who worked behind scenes, she never asked for a spotlight. A mor of two, she never asked to become heart of a nation at war,” American magazine described Ukrainian first ly. Her Time profile was written by US First Ly Dr Jill Biden. “Olena Zelenska didn’t expect to become a warrior for people of Ukraine, but she has answered this call with selfless courage,” American First Ly wrote for her Ukrainian counterpart. Dr Biden n went on to describe her first experience when she met Zelenska during a Mor’s Day celebration in a small Ukrainian town. “Instinctively, we embraced—two mors, two nations, coming toger for peace. In strain of her smile, I could see weight she carried: sleep lost to percussion of falling bombs, tales of atrocities that she would never forget,” US First Ly said in piece. 

'She could have taken her family and left': Jill Biden on Zelenska

In her Time profile, US first ly talked about how convenient it was for Zelenska to leave country with her children after Russia started its invasion of Ukraine. Jill Biden asserted that despite all luxuries and conveniences available to her she chose to stay in war-ravaged country. “She stays because freedom and democracy deserve defenders. She stays to show world that heart and hope can make even largest tyrant seem small. She stays for her children—for ir future, and future of all Ukrainians,” US First Ly wrote. “Olena Zelenska is a mor. Protector. pride of her nation. A beacon of hope for people she loves,” she concluded.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Matviichuk, who received Nobel peace prize in 2022, was also featured list. She founded human rights organisation called Center for Civil Liberties in 2007. group has been vocating for democratic reforms in Ukraine and has been active in collecting data on  Russian human rights violations in eastern European country.