“Oggi trasferiamo 1,5 miliardi di euro di proventi da asset russi immobilizzati alla difesa e alla ricostruzione dell’Ucraina. Non c’è simbolo o uso migliore per i soldi del Cremlino che rendere l’Ucraina e tutta l’Europa un posto più sicuro in cui vivere”: Ursula von der Leyen

Extract from [statement](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_24_4029) and attached [Q&A](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_24_4030)*

*Today, the EU makes available in support of Ukraine the first payment of €1.5 billion generated from immobilised Russian assets.*

*These extraordinary revenues generated by EU operators and held by central securities depositories (CSDs) from immobilised Russian sovereign assets were made available by Euroclear to the Commission as a first instalment on 23 July.*

*The money will now be channelled through the European Peace Facility and to the Ukraine Facility to support Ukraine’s military capabilities as well as to support the country’s reconstruction.*

*The immobilisation of the Russian Central Bank’s assets is a result of EU sanctions against Russia, adopted in the wake of its war of aggression against Ukraine.*

*The extraordinary revenues generated in this context by the EU operators do not belong to Russia and are held by CSDs. The EU has now started to channel these revenues to Ukraine.*
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**[Why do you not send these extraordinary revenues straight to Ukraine?](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_24_4030)*

*The extraordinary revenues are fully used for the benefit of Ukraine through two Union Instruments, the EPF and the Ukraine Facility. The channelling ensures that the revenues are spent on the strengthening of military capabilities and reconstruction in line with sound financial management rules.*