Zelenskyy: Russia’s Shadow Fleet Earns Billions, Far Outpacing Aid Ukraine Receives

The damages Ukraine has suffered due to Russian aggression have reached approximately $800 billion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated during a press conference following his participation in the European Political Community summit in Budapest.

"Now there are $300 billion of frozen Russian assets. They (Russian forces) destroyed Ukraine, according to the estimates of international institutions, causing damage for about $800 billion," he said.

"Ukraine now needs these frozen assets to purchase weapons and build housing for people who lost it as a result of the war," Zelenskyy added. "The amount of funds that the Russian Federation receives from the use of the shadow fleet  is many times greater than the aid Ukraine gets from all allies."

Zelenskyy said that he spoke with partners, giving them an example of the shadow fleet of the Russian Federation, which sails through the waters of the European Union and NATO countries. 

“The Russian shadow fleet earns $11-12 billion a month. Let's multiply by 12 months... I only ask you to compare this money with how much aid Ukraine received. Again, we are grateful for everything, no objections. But only one shadow fleet of the Russian Federation, which was not sanctioned, earned more in almost three years of war than all the world's aid to Ukraine in this war," Zelenskyy said.

He also stressed the "insufficiency of sanctions," noting that restrictions have not been imposed on all Russian banks or on all of Russia's energy resources.

Addressing the European Political Community summit in Budapest, Zelenskyy emphasized that the concept of “peace through strength” has repeatedly proven its realism and effectiveness.