Critical materials worth approximately $350 billion are located in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, a significant portion of which could be used by Russia in aviation, defense, and medical industries.
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, stated this during the “Ukraine. Year 2025” forum in Kyiv on Sunday, according to Ukrinform.
“We know and have information that these critical materials located in the temporarily occupied territories are worth around $350 billion,” Svyrydenko said.
According to her, Ukraine’s task is not only to export titanium, lithium, uranium, and rare earth metals from the occupied territories, but also to attract investments in the processing and development of these material deposits. There is also a need to update geological data and attract investors into the processing industry.
“We understand that these are resources currently under the control of the aggressor. In particular, titanium, which is used in aviation, defense, and medical sectors. Our goal is to develop the processing of this raw material, not just its export,” Svyrydenko said.
She also stressed that the development of critical material extraction is part of the victory plan presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This plan also includes security matters, cooperation with NATO, and countering Russian aggression.
Nearly 20% of Ukraine’s mineral resources, including about half of its rare earth metal deposits, are under Russian occupation. The value of these resources in the occupied territories is estimated at trillions of U.S. dollars, making sanctions against Russia essential.
Source: Critical materials worth $350B located in occupied Ukrainian territories – Svyrydenko
