
Russian invasion has destroyed $100 billion in assets so far, says Ukraine official
India Today
Russia-Ukraine war news latest update: According to a Kyiv government official, the Russian invasion of the country has so far destroyed about $100 billion in Ukrainian assets.
The Russian invasion has so far destroyed about $100 billion in roads, bridges and businesses in Ukraine, dealing a huge hit to its economy, a Kyiv government official said Thursday.
"Currently around 50 percent of our businesses are not operating, and those which are still operating are not operating at 100 percent," said Oleg Ustenko, chief economic advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"The situation in terms of economic growth, is going to be really very depressing, even if the war immediately stops," he said in a virtual speech to the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Follow the latest updates on Russia-Ukraine war
Ustenko repeated his call for European and other governments to cut off Moscow's access to "blood money" by boycotting Russian oil and natural gas.
"Europeans are still paying to this monster in order to kill our people, innocent people," he said.
While European nations rely on Russian energy for heat, "I can assure you it's much, much, much colder in the underground of Ukraine where the people are hidden."