Ukraine-Russia War: EU Sends €4bn in Frozen Russian Assets to Kyiv Amid Rising Tensions
The European Union has transferred €4 billion to Ukraine, drawn from frozen Russian assets, as tensions over the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war continue to escalate. Kyiv’s finance ministry confirmed the transaction on Wednesday.
The move comes amid discussions among European leaders about potentially transferring up to €140 billion in frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine.
Moscow has strongly condemned the initiative, labelling it “theft” of sovereign assets and promising legal action against involved states and individuals.
French President Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders have expressed cautious backing for the plan but emphasised it must adhere strictly to international law.
“We need a more structural solution for military support,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday.
“This is why I have put forward the idea of a reparations loan that is based on the immobilized Russian assets.”
Meanwhile, European officials are convening in Copenhagen this week to consider constructing a “drone wall” along borders with Russia and Ukraine, aiming to prevent airspace violations by unmanned aerial vehicles.
Nuclear Threats Escalate
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised alarm over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, calling the situation an “emergency.”
“It is now the seventh day – something that has never happened before – of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelensky wrote on X/Twitter.
It is now the seventh day – something that has never happened before – of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Because of Russian shelling, the plant has been cut off from power, disconnected from the electrical grid, and is being supplied with… pic.twitter.com/hUSusfgVjy
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 30, 2025
“Because of Russian shelling, the plant has been cut off from power, disconnected from the electrical grid, and is being supplied with electricity by diesel generators.
This is extraordinary. The generators and the plant were not designed for this, have never operated in this mode for long, and we already have information that one generator has failed.
It is Russian shelling that prevents the repair of the power lines to the plant and the restoration of basic safety.
This is a threat to everyone; no terrorist in the world has ever dared to do to a nuclear plant what Russia is doing. And it is right that the world does not stay silent.”
The UN’s atomic watchdog has repeatedly warned that a radiation catastrophe similar to Chernobyl remains a possibility if the situation deteriorates.
Moscow Denies Drone Attack Claims
A fire at a Yaroslavl oil refinery northeast of Moscow, initially suspected to be caused by a Ukrainian drone strike, has been declared contained.
“Residents were concerned it might have been the result of an enemy drone attack,” regional governor Mikhail Yevrayev said on Telegram. “But what happened has nothing to do with that…The fire is of a technological nature.”
Ukraine has reportedly been attacking refineries in an attempt to disrupt fuel supplies and revenue. The country has also recently carried out drone strikes on Moscow airports, escalating pressure on Russian infrastructure.
Broader Implications for Europe
Experts advise that the Ukraine-Russia war is increasingly impacting Europe directly.
Former MI5 principal Eliza Manningham-Buller has suggested Britain is formally in a form of war with Russia, reflecting the conflict’s broader security counteraccusations for NATO abettors.
From Kyiv to Copenhagen, European leaders are seeking strategies not only to support Ukraine financially but also to fortify the mainland against implicit spillovers of the conflict.
Other Key Developments
- Princess Anne visits Ukraine to support children affected by war.
- A family of four killed in Sumy region, Ukraine, according to the local authorities.
- Judges note that Vladimir Putin faces mounting challenges as the conflict drags on.
The situation remains fluid, with both Kyiv and Moscow swapping allegations amid a background of service, profitable, and nuclear pressures.
