The Russian Federation occupied one of the largest and most promising lithium deposits in Ukraine — “Shevchenkivske” — during the spring offensive, located in the Donetsk region. This deposit was previously developed by an American company specializing in critical minerals and was considered key to the economic partnership between Ukraine and the USA in the field of strategic resources.
This is reported by Business • Media
Importance of the deposit for the Ukrainian economy
The “Shevchenkivske” deposit contains up to 90% spodumene — a mineral that is the primary source of lithium extraction. Lithium, in turn, is an essential element for the production of battery packs for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Losing control over this strategic resource is a significant blow to Ukraine’s potential in advanced technologies and its ability to integrate into the future global economy.
“Shevchenkivske” contains up to 90% spodumene – a mineral from which lithium is extracted, indispensable in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
The economic dimension of the war and the situation with other deposits
Recent events indicate that the Russo-Ukrainian war is increasingly transforming into a conflict that is not only military but also economic. The Russian Federation is not only destroying Ukrainian infrastructure but also deliberately seeking to seize strategic resources that could be beneficial for its own industry or weaken Ukraine’s position in global markets.
According to estimates by Ukrainian scientists, before the onset of full-scale aggression, the total lithium reserves in Ukraine amounted to about 500 thousand tons, making the country a leader in this indicator in Europe. Four main lithium deposits have been explored in Ukraine, but none of them are currently being exploited. Two of them — “Polokhivske” and “Dobra” — are located in the Kirovohrad region, while the other two — “Shevchenkivske” in Donetsk and “Kruta Balka” in the Zaporizhzhia region — are under Russian control.