How the war in Ukraine is changing the daily life of Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska

“It can be done at that time, but it will depend on the situation”: this is a phrase often heard by Ana, the interpreter of the Ukrainian presidential couple. These words are indeed the first element of security for Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska. They allow you to say yes to interviews without ever situating them, neither in time nor geographically. An element of language adopted since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which begins its second year this Friday.

In a few weeks, Volodymyr Zelensky, head of state since 2019, has become the intimate enemy of Vladimir Putin and his allies. Therefore, he is one of the most threatened men in the world by the Russian secret services, by possible betrayals or by the daily bombardments. The draconian security measures surrounding him are obviously kept secret, but they sometimes filter through images and public outings of the president or his wife.

Improvised public photos

Ana followed the first lady for an interview, and therefore had to cross this course of secrecy to arrive at the concrete security measures before the meeting. “I had to have my passport, my accreditation,” she explains at the microphone of the special envoy of Europe 1 in Ukraine. “I was questioned. I guess the services checked my information”, she continues, “the car was looked at and we had to give our phones 30 minutes before the meeting which the place learned only at the last moment .”

The young woman also followed the Ukrainian president in person for fleeting moments. “He approached the journalists, he gave a very short press conference and he left very quickly because of a potential danger”, recalls the interpreter.

Safety can also be seen in the images from the presidential Twitter account, sometimes in a white background, badly lit as if it had been improvised. A sign of a more secure place in the moment than the presidential office.