Why Did Ukraine’s First Lady Suddenly Land in Jaipur on Her Way to Japan? Here's What Happened

A special flight carrying Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, along with Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and other officials, made a short stop at Jaipur International Airport early Sunday morning for refuelling. The Ministry of External Affairs in India had previously pre-approved the landing, which took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. According to media reports, this was a planned refuelling stop on their way to Japan.

The aircraft had 23 members onboard, including senior representatives like Ukraine’s Permanent UN Representative Sergiy Kyslytsya and Economic Affairs Minister Oleksii Sobolev. The Ukrainian officials got off and waited in the VIP room while the jet was being refuelled. They were greeted by Delhi embassy representatives who had travelled to Jaipur to greet them and were given light refreshments.

No Immigration Required During Technical Stop

As this was a technical halt, there was no need for immigration checks. The visit was limited to refuelling and a brief rest. The aircraft departed for Japan again around 8:15 a.m. Reports suggest that the Ukrainian delegation’s trip to Japan is focused on improving relations between the two countries. They are also expected to request Japan for stronger sanctions on Russia and more support for Ukraine’s rebuilding process.

Who is Olena Zelenska?

Olena Zelenska is the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She was born in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on February 6, 1978. She met her future spouse while studying architecture at Kryvyi Rih National University. The pair were married in 2003 and have two kids: Kyrylo, a son, and Oleksandra, a daughter. Before becoming First Lady in 2019, she worked as a screenwriter at Kvartal 95, a comedy production company co-founded by her husband.

First Lady with a Mission

Though she was initially shy of public attention, Olena Zelenska has taken active roles since becoming First Lady. She has supported projects focused on school nutrition for children, gender equality, and stopping domestic violence. She also helped improve access to museums and introduced Ukrainian-language audio guides in cultural spaces around the world. One of her major efforts includes organising the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which brings together leaders to work on humanitarian causes.