Ukrainian director, actor and soldier Akhtem Seitablaiev has made his first public appearance alongside his new partner, Olena, at a recent public event.
The 53-year-old filmmaker confirmed the romance after the couple arrived together at the gathering, revealing where their relationship first began.
Speaking to Ukrainian news outlet OBOZ.UA, Olena explained that the pair had met at a film screening during one of the showings of the movie Homeward.
Seitablaiev asked his partner not to rush into disclosing everything about their personal life, adding that information should be released gradually. He admitted that they were not yet ready to speak extensively about themselves and noted that their relationship was currently at a romantic stage.
While the couple did not disclose how long they have been together, the director had previously revealed in the summer that he was no longer single. At the time, Seitablaiev stated that he was in a relationship that brought him warmth, clarity, passion and shared values, though he chose not to share further details with the public.
Past engagement and family
The new relationship comes two years after Seitablaiev ended his relationship with Maryana Botsvyniuk, who is 20 years his junior. The former couple had been preparing for a wedding before deciding to break off their engagement. Recently, the actor had also made a rare appearance with his daughter and granddaughter for the first time in a long period.
Career and military service
Seitablaiev is one of Ukraine's best known cultural figures, acclaimed for his work as both a cinema director and an actor. Among his notable projects is the 2019 drama Homeward, in which he played the lead role, as well as the 2017 hit film Cyborgs. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he enlisted as a serviceman in the Ukrainian military.
