Zelensky noted that the invaders are also blackmailing teachers, stealing money used to pay pensions.

Zelensky also spoke about the need for an embargo on oil supplies from Russia / photo t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official, president.gov.ua

The response to the attempted ruble occupation of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions should be the full coverage of the Russian banking and financial systems with sanctions.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an evening video message.

“The democratic world must also respond to what the occupiers are doing in the south of Ukraine – in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. Torture rooms are being built there. Representatives of local authorities and everyone who is considered visible to local communities are being kidnapped,” he stressed.

Zelensky noted that the occupiers also blackmail teachers, steal money used to pay pensions, block and steal humanitarian aid, and drive people to starvation.

“The occupiers are also trying to tear off the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, following the example of the so-called “DPR” and “LPR”. They are transferring this territory to the ruble zone and subordinating it to the administrative machine of Russia,” Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine stressed that all this requires greater speed on the part of Western states in preparing a new powerful sanctions package:

 “The response to the attempted ruble occupation of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions should be the full coverage of the Russian banking and financial systems with sanctions. Because they are part of the occupation machine.”

Zelensky also spoke about the need for an embargo on oil supplies from Russia.

“Everyone in Europe and America already sees that Russia is openly using energy sources to try to destabilize Western societies. The Russian bet on chaos in the fuel markets should not work,” he said.

(C)UNIAN 2022