Olena Zelenska Foundation started fundraising in London for the restoration of the hospital in Izium

Olena Zelenska presented her Foundation in London. The Foundation deals with the most pressing issues in Ukraine right now. It has three main directions: it helps rebuild hospitals to ensure a fundamental human right to access health, revamp the educational process, and solve critical humanitarian needs. Currently, the Foundation seeks the help of international partners to raise funds and join the efforts to help Ukraine in these hard times.

The project initiator, the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, opened the event. She emphasized the importance of Great Britain's help.

"You are helping us immensely to free Ukraine from all the grief and suffering, to stay strong and win," she addressed the British people.

The First Lady added that Russian troops shelled or destroyed more than 500 hospitals and more than 300 educational institutions were destroyed while damaging more than 2,400. She emphasized that currently, Ukraine is a dark spot on the map of Europe because Ukrainians do not have light, water, heat, or means of communication.

This event was also joined by Ukrainians who heroically helped the country in the fight for freedom. One of them is - volunteer Tata Kepler - who saves thousands of Ukrainians by delivering medicine and necessities. Another hero - Oleksandr Lysytsia, a pediatric oncologist and transplant specialist continuing to work in Ukraine during the war. As well as a teacher from Mariupol Lyudmila Totsyna who persevers hope and dreams of returning home to teach children again. 

At the event, special attention was paid to solving the problems of people in the deoccupied territories because now, more than ever, they need support. 

“When Ukrainian troops liberated Kherson, people greeted them with hugs. People cried from happiness. People took out the Ukrainian flags which they hid during the months of occupation,” says Olena Zelenska. - “On the one hand, it is probably the most inspiring and hope-giving episode in this war so far. On the other hand, it is another episode of humanitarian disaster, medical collapse, and educational abyss on this territory after Russian invasion”. 

At the event, a charity fundraiser was launched to restore the Central City Hospital of Pischanska Virgin Mary in Izyum. This is the largest and most important medical institution in the Kharkiv region. The auction was held with the support of Christie's. 

Four lots were put up for auction. Among them were a painting by 11-year-old Maksym Brovchenko, a fragment of a Russian rocket that hit the Kyiv TV tower on March 3 and an illustration by Ukrainian artist Serhiy Maidukov. The biggest amount - 100,000 pounds - was paid for “Kyiv Madonna” by the British artist Mark Quinn. Fundraising is ongoing.