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To Japan, via Jaipur. Why Ukraine's First Lady made a surprise stop in India
The plane landed at Jaipur International Airport at around 6:30 am, carrying a 23-member Ukrainian delegation, including First Lady Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska. File image/ Instagram: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
A plane carrying a high-level Ukrainian delegation, including First Lady Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska, made an unexpected stop at Jaipur International Airport on Sunday while en route to Tokyo, Japan.
On board were several senior members of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's administration, including Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Andreyovich. The unscheduled landing quickly drew attention, given its high-profile passengers.
So why did the plane stop in Jaipur? Here's what we know.
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Why did the Ukrainian First Lady's plane land in Jaipur?
The unexpected landing of Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska's plane in Jaipur on Sunday morning was for a refuelling, according to reports.
The refuelling request had been pre-approved by India's Ministry of External Affairs, which directed the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to ensure all necessary protocols were followed. As per the directive issued on August 1, special instructions were given to exempt the delegation from standard pre-embarkation checks such as frisking and to extend VIP courtesies.
The plane landed at Jaipur International Airport at around 6:30 am, carrying a 23-member Ukrainian delegation, including high-ranking officials like Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Oleksii Sobolev, Ukraine's Minister for Economic Affairs.
Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska's plane in Jaipur on Sunday morning was for a refuelling. File image/President of Ukraine
During the stop, the delegation waited in the VIP lounge while the aircraft was refuelled. The group was served light refreshments and met with Ukrainian Embassy officials from New Delhi who had travelled to Jaipur to receive them.
The visit was handled discreetly by airport authorities, despite the high-profile nature of the passengers. Immigration clearance was not required since it was a transit halt, and the plane resumed its journey to Tokyo at around 8:15 am.
According to NDTV, the delegation is headed to Japan to reinforce diplomatic ties and seek greater support in Ukraine's reconstruction efforts and sanctions push against Russia.
Who is Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska?
Olena Zelenska, born Olena Volodymyrivna Kiyashko, is the First Lady of Ukraine and the wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Before stepping into the spotlight, Olena had a career as a screenwriter, working with Kvartal 95 Studio, a comedy and production group co-founded by Zelenskyy long before he entered politics.
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Olena and Volodymyr met during their university years. He was studying law, while she was in engineering. Their friendship turned into a relationship in 1995, and after dating for nearly 8 years, they got married in 2003.
The couple has two children, daughter Oleksandra, born in 2004, and son Kyrylo, born in 2013. They're also known to be animal lovers and share their home with several pets, including dogs, a cat, a parrot, and even a guinea pig.
While she largely stayed away from politics early on, Olena has become a prominent voice since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. She has spoken on international platforms, championing humanitarian support and mental health, especially for women and children affected by the war.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska's featured on cover of Vogue magazine. File image
In September 2022, she launched the Olena Zelenska Foundation, aimed at rebuilding essential services and infrastructure in war-affected areas, particularly in and around Kyiv.
Her efforts have earned her global recognition. In 2022, she appeared on the cover of Vogue and was named one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People. She also received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award in December 2022 for her work supporting women and advocating for peace.
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