What happened? SecDev analysts estimate that Ukrainian mineral deposits with a total value of more than $12.4 trillion are currently being “held hostage” by russia.
Source. The Washington Post (WP).
Details. According to experts, during the full-scale war, the russian federation seized 41 coal fields, 27 natural gas sites, 14 propane sites, 9 oil fields, 6 iron ore deposits, 2 titanium ore sites, 2 zirconium ore sites, 1 strontium site, 1 lithium site, 1 uranium site, and 1 gold deposit.
The limestone quarry, which Ukraine used for steel production, is also under temporary russian occupation.
In general, russia already controls 63% of Ukraine's coal deposits, 42% of metal deposits, 20% of gas ones, 11% of oil ones, as well as 33% of rare earth deposits.
WP notes that Ukraine has some of the world’s largest reserves of titanium and iron ore, massive deposits of coal and lithium. But despite this, blocking of shipping and seizing of the Ukrainian ports is a more pressing problem for the Ukrainian economy.