Russia's Plans to Plunder 18 Ukrainian Mineral Deposits Revealed by Zelensky

Briefing on Russia's Strategic Intentions

According to Главком: On May 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received a classified briefing from the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Oleh Ivashchenko. The report included documents detailing Moscow's strategy for exploiting Ukraine's temporarily occupied territories. Key points covered plans for resource theft, deindustrialization, and the extraction of raw materials from 18 specific deposits. Zelensky specifically highlighted the occupiers' intentions to seize this year's grain harvest, alongside updated intelligence on how long-range sanctions are impacting Russian losses.

Moscow's Agenda in Occupied Regions

According to the intelligence findings, Russia is preparing to conduct geological surveys, extract, and export valuable minerals, including:

• titanium
• lithium
• tantalum
• niobium
• zirconium
• molybdenum
• graphite

“In the southern Ukrainian lands currently under occupation, Russia plans to carry out the same kind of looting and deindustrialization that it has already inflicted on the captured Donbas region,” Volodymyr Zelensky stated.

The president also noted a rise in direct damages and a slowdown in Russian production and export activities.

“The actual bankruptcy of a large portion of Russia's regional budgets cannot be hidden,” Zelensky emphasized.

The briefing further revealed that Moscow is expanding its air defense ring around the capital by relocating systems from other Russian regions. “This shows that the Russian leadership is not preparing for a ceasefire,” he remarked, pointing to intensified terror attacks on civilian cities and ongoing assaults along the front line.

Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's calls for genuine diplomacy and an end to the war. “Ukraine has repeatedly proposed that Russia engage in real diplomacy and agree to a ceasefire,” he said, expressing gratitude to international partners for their support in these diplomatic efforts.

This report underscores Russia's continued aggressive policies in Ukraine's occupied territories while highlighting serious internal economic troubles within the aggressor state-issues that could carry long-term consequences. Ukraine's persistent focus on diplomacy signals a readiness for peace negotiations despite the ongoing hostilities, reflecting a broader desire for stability in the region.

As the situation evolves, President Zelensky's insights into Russia's aggressive resource extraction strategies highlight the broader implications for Ukraine's sovereignty. For a deeper understanding of how these developments intersect with Russia's demands and the role of international alliances, read about the recent shifts in the war and key energy infrastructure in our detailed analysis regarding Russian demands and the US pact.