Between October 22 and 27, Georgian- and Russian-language Facebook accounts circulated a photo of Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, with a quote that reads, “Because of joining NATO, we Ukrainians are ready to endure 20-30 years without electricity, heating, water, or food, and we can even sleep in the snow.”
The quote attributed to Olena Zelenska is false. A similar phrase appeared in a 2022 BBC interview, but there she spoke not about enduring harsh conditions for 20-30 years or about joining NATO, but about 2-3 years and the prospect of joining the European Union
There are no open-source records of Olena Zelenska saying that Ukrainians could endure 20-30 years without basic necessities. The closest match to the circulated quote is a phrase the First Lady said in an interview with the BBC on November 25, 2022. In that interview, among other topics, they discussed power outages, the coming winter, and Ukrainian views on the war’s likely duration. Zelenska cited a sociological survey which, she said, showed that a majority of Ukrainians answered they could endure two to three years without electricity and heating if they saw a prospect of EU membership.
Olena Zelenska: “I can share my impressions. Recently, just last week, an opinion poll was published. Ukrainians were asked how long they can endure these conditions without electricity and heating. We know that the winter could be another test for us if there is no heating in our homes. The majority of Ukrainians, over 90% of respondents, said that they are prepared to endure these for two or three years if they can see the prospect of our membership in the European Union. They want to be in this European family as equals. We know why: for victory, for confidence, because this democratic family is waiting for us, and we want to be equal there with others. Ukrainians are ready to bear this. We are optimistic about all this.”
The journalist also asked Zelenska about the “2 or 3 years,” to which the First Lady expressed hope that the war would end sooner but noted that no one knows that for certain.
Accordingly, unlike the circulated quote, in the interview Zelenska mentioned not 20-30 but 2-3 years, and she spoke about the prospect of joining the European Union, not NATO. Also, in the interview, Zelenska said nothing about enduring without water and food or about sleeping in the snow.
Myth Detector has previously verified Olena Zelenska’s forged quote. Read more in the article:
Lizi Chkadua
MYTH DETECTOR LAB
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