Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska says country will ‘endure’

Despite the cold and the blackouts caused by Russian missiles, Ukrainians will “endure” this coming winter, the country’s first lady Olena Zelenska said.

"We've had so many terrible challenges, seen so many victims, so much destruction, that blackouts are not the worst thing to happen to us,” the first lady asserted in an interview with the BBC.

Ms Zelenska said 90% of Ukrainians said in a poll they were ready to live with electricity shortages for two to three years if they could see the prospect of joining the European Union.

“We are all hoping it will end sooner,” she added.