“There is some sort of psychological paradox,” Mrs Zelenska said. “It is probably the same thing when people watch horror movies. When you read something horrible, you understand this isn’t real life and maybe it’s easier for you to take it in. So, after the beginning of the big war, I caught myself reading things I would stop reading previously because I was scared. For instance, I read again Orwell’s 1984. I don’t like the dystopia genre, but at that point in the war I needed that, I needed to read it once again and see how awful the fall of society may be.”
She said the novel about the dangers of totalitarian societies reminded her “how people may lose touch with reality”.
“Maybe that helps me to react less emotionally to the news on the other side because when you see how much the brains of the citizens of the neighbouring country have been worked on, then you recall Orwell and you come to believe that everything is possible”.
Later this year Mrs Zelenksa will host the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which is now in its fourth iteration. What began as a way to unite first couples internationally has garnered practical results for Ukraine. In 2022 the summit led to the purchase of 92 ambulances for the country, last year it established medical partnerships internationally and this year they aim to focus on the safety of children.
“Children are the first victim of any war or any military conflict,” she said, citing the militarisation of children, as well as kidnapping, deaths and a lack of access to healthcare and education. With so much of children’s education being taught online due to bombings and missile attacks, the summit will focus on online safety, including how to counter disinformation and cyber bullying.
In the immediate term, Ukraine is looking at building underground schools so that children can return to classrooms safely and have the ability to interact with their classmates and schoolteachers. Mrs Zelenska added that her greatest hope was for children to physically return to school.
Despite Russia’s unrelenting assault on Ukraine, the first lady still finds moments to be positive about.
“There are always things to be happy about, even in these most horrifying moments that happened to us, we still see the manifestations of humanity around and this is incredibly inspiring,” she insisted.
“The most horrifying moments we keep witnessing – the rubble of residential buildings being gone through and people retrieved from there – every time I look at the rescuers who arrive on site, I watch them work and I’m incredibly grateful to those people. I just look at their faces. I look at them, how concentrated they are and how they work. It inspires even in the worst moments and it doesn’t let you succumb to discouragement because you realise you did so little to get tired that you need to go and keep working.”