Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone conversation with the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, during which they discussed the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine and its recovery following the devastating attacks by the Russian Federation.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Discussion of the Consequences of the Night Attack by the Russian Federation
Zelensky informed Lagarde about the massive night attack by Russian forces on Ukrainian territory that occurred on the night of October 9 to 10. The President noted that as a result of this terrorist strike, repair work is ongoing in various regions of the country, and energy workers are making every effort to restore normal life for citizens as quickly as possible.
“I informed about the consequences of this terrorist strike. Repair crews and energy workers are currently operating in various regions. We are doing everything to restore normal life,” he stated.
Use of Frozen Russian Assets and Support from Partners
The President emphasized the importance of holding the Russian Federation accountable for prolonging the war and stated that he and Lagarde discussed ways to fairly utilize the frozen Russian assets. According to the head of state, there are already decisions in place regarding the effective use of these funds for the protection and reconstruction of Ukraine. At the same time, Zelensky stressed the need for sufficient political will in Europe, as a significant portion of the seized Russian assets is located there.
Most international partners support Ukraine on this issue, and Kyiv is counting on further concrete actions. The parties also agreed to closely cooperate with other European leaders to advance this matter on the international stage.
Christine Lagarde’s press service is currently refraining from commenting on the outcomes of the conversation with the President of Ukraine.
On the night of October 10, Russian forces launched one of the most extensive combined strikes on Ukrainian territory, focusing their efforts on energy infrastructure. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 32 missiles and 465 drones of various types were launched. The attack resulted in direct hits from 13 missiles and 60 strike drones at 19 locations, while debris from downed targets fell on an additional 7 sites.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko reported that the Russian strike was one of the largest in history and specifically targeted energy facilities. A significant portion of the missiles used were ballistic, leading to severe damage to the energy infrastructure. Emergency power outages had to be implemented in nine regions of Ukraine.