Ukrainians are ready to endure challenges for the sake of victory and future in EU Zelenska

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady, believes that Ukrainians are ready to endure the challenges of a tough winter which Russians doom them to suffer, for the sake of victory, dignity and a European future for Ukraine.

Source: Olena Zelenska, wife of the President of Ukraine, in a BBC interview for the 100 women project

Quote: "We’ve had so many challenges during these months…Such trying challenges, seen so many victims, so much destruction, that blackouts are not the worst thing to happen to us.

We are becoming more enterprising. All important tasks which require electricity, we try to get them done when we have power. We don’t put anything off for later."

Details: The Ukrainian first lady mentioned an opinion poll that was published recently. Ukrainians were asked how much longer they can endure these conditions, "without light, without heat."

She emphasised that winter may become another challenge for Ukrainians if there is no heat in their homes.

Quote: "90 % of Ukrainians said they were prepared to endure this for two or three years if they could see the prospect of membership in the European Union. They want to be a part of the European family as equals.

We know what we are fighting for: for victory, for our own dignity, for this democratic family which is waiting for us – and we want to be a part of it as equals. Ukrainians are ready to endure this. We are optimistic about it."

Details: Zelenska replied to the question about 2-3 years of challenges: "We are all hoping it won’t be this long. We are all hoping it will end sooner."

She noted that "It is easier to run a marathon when you know how many kilometres it is."

"Unfortunately, we don't know what distance we need to calculate our energy for." At times it is very hard," she said. "But then new emotions emerge that help us to keep going.

Background:

• Russia has undertaken seven large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure since 10 October, deploying drones and missiles to target the country’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants, electricity substations and gas production facilities. Three of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants temporarily stopped generating power following Russia’s latest attack on Wednesday, 23 November. A large number of Ukrainian citizens were left without power, water, heat, internet and mobile service.

• Satellite images of Ukrainian cities on 23 November, after the large-scale Russian missile attack, have revealed the extent of power outages throughout the country.

• Russia’s deliberate targeting of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has led to a significant power deficit in the country, forcing the government to implement a schedule of extensive rolling blackouts. On the evening of Wednesday, 23 November, nearly 12 million households had no power; as of the evening of Friday, 25 November, over 6 million households remained without power.

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