Russia planning to steal valuable minerals from 18 deposits in occupied territories in Ukraine’s south, Zelenskyy says

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian intelligence has documentation showing that Russia is planning to extract and export valuable raw materials from temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine's south. At least 18 deposits are involved.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Quote: "Geological exploration is planned, followed by rapid extraction and export of valuable raw materials from at least 18 deposits – including titanium, lithium, tantalum, niobium, zircon, molybdenum, and graphite."

Details: Zelenskyy said Russia is planning the same processes of plunder and deindustrialisation in the occupied southern territories of Ukraine that it has carried out in occupied Donbas.

Ukrainian intelligence also indicates that Russia intends to seize and export this year's grain harvest. Ukraine is preparing to counter these plans.

Background:

• Russia is selling off natural resources in Ukraine's occupied territories through state auctions. One of the biggest sales so far has been the Bobrikivske gold ore deposit in Luhansk Oblast.
• In June 2025, Russian forces seized the village of Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, which is situated near a lithium ore deposit that has one of the largest reserves in Eastern Europe.

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