Press release on 25 February 2025.
Lord Ashcroft met with the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, earlier today as she showed him around a major charity project that he has supported near Kyiv, the country’s capital.
The First Lady hosted his visit to the town of Borodyanka, which was severely damaged by the invading Russians in the earliest days of the all-out war which began in February 2022. Over 38 days of brutal occupation, some 170 people from the region were killed and hundreds of properties were destroyed.
During today’s visit, the First Lady showed Lord Ashcroft the site chosen for the new Children’s Creative and Sports Center in the town. Work will start on the new building within days using funds from the £1.3 million donation that Lord Ashcroft made to the Olena Zelenska Foundation last year.
Their meeting came the day after Ukraine entered its fourth year of war against its Russian aggressor and during Lord Ashcroft’s eleventh visit to Ukraine since the start of its all-out war with Russia.
This is not just reconstruction – it is an investment in the future of our children
Olena Zelenska
The First Lady said: “Lord Ashcroft has become one of the partners, and we are grateful to him for his incredible support and his understanding of the importance of implementing such projects.
The wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky – she has been a passionate supporter of both her country and her husband – added: “This is not just reconstruction – it is an investment in the future of our children.”
Lord Ashcroft said: “I am hugely grateful to the First Lady that, particularly during these difficult and uncertain times for Ukraine, she was kind enough to invite me to Borodyanka.”
“The First Lady was typically generous with her time in showing me the progress of the Children’s Creative and Sports Center and in explaining what this project will achieve for this town that was bombed so brutally by the Russian invaders three years ago.
“Since I made my donation to support the Olena Zelenska Foundation last year, the First Lady could not have been more thoughtful in informing me about the progress of the two major projects that I have supported.”
Last year, the First Lady hosted a visit by Lord Ashcroft to the other project that he is supporting in Ukraine – a laboratory at the Lviv Children’s Medical Center, which specialises in the treatment of children with diseases and disorders.
Lord Ashcroft said: “In recent years, the First Lady has carried out a huge amount of invaluable charitable work in the fields of health care, education and humanitarian aid. I congratulate her on all she has achieved for her country during these challenging times.”
The main bulk of Lord Ashcroft’s £1.3 million donation is going towards funding the Borodyanka project. The town was under Russian occupation for parts of February and March 2022 before Ukraine regained control of the area.
the First Lady has carried out a huge amount of invaluable charitable work in the fields of health care, education and humanitarian aid
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC
The First Lady showed him some of the worst of the devastation and her charity’s plans for restoration. The new centre, which is also being funded by donations from the Temerty Foundation and the Larry H. Miller and Gail Miller Family Foundation, is due to be completed in 2026.
Lord Ashcroft made his donation last year as part of his on-going support for Ukraine. He has met the First Lady four times: first in London and then for a major interview with her in Kyiv. There have since been two further meetings, first in Lviv and now in Borodyanka.
During their meetings, the First Lady has outlined some of the work that her foundation has carried out since it was launched three years ago.
