Seized Russian assets should work for Ukraine now, without waiting for reparations – serviceman

Yuriy Hudymenko, a soldier and head of the Ukrainian Association Mriya, told this in an interview with Channel 24.

"More than USD 270 billion in Russian assets have been seized. This money should be transferred to Ukraine, it is needed here and now. We do not need to wait for the end of the war. We all say: veterans will return and there should be jobs. At the same time, we are saying that assets have been seized somewhere. But this is logically connected: money has to come to Ukraine, and it will lead to new investments. Investments will create businesses, and businesses will create new jobs. This money will allow us to rebuild houses where veterans can return, because many of them have destroyed their houses and businesses. I am very surprised why the government does not talk about these assets every day," he emphasized.

According to the military officer, the prompt injection of Russian seized assets in the Ukrainian economy will stimulate the creation of jobs for veterans.

"But these are not reparations! We will calculate reparations separately. Russian assets are a fine for the invasion, a fine for the fact that these people crossed our border. And it is through reparations that real losses since 2014, such as the occupation of Crimea, the destruction of cities and infrastructure, will be compensated," he emphasized.

As an example, he mentioned Kuwait, which received compensation from Iraq. "But this is a new story for the West. We have to prove and communicate to them that nothing negatively affects the investment attractiveness of a country as much as the status of a party that does not give the victim the money of murderers, maniacs, and rapists. And we are the victim in this case," the soldier summarized.