Russia is developing a large-scale geological exploration program in the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk region, aiming to utilize these resources to address its own economic problems. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service, the program is set to begin in 2026, with its implementation expected to last until 2031.
This is reported by Finway
Long-term program for updating Soviet geological data
In the occupied territories of Donetsk, a multi-year geological exploration is planned, consisting of several stages. The Russians intend to clarify and update data about the subsoil, using Soviet geological materials as a foundation. Since the collapse of the USSR, research in the region has been virtually non-existent, so the occupiers now seek to assess the potential of the discovered deposits for further industrial development.
Funding and strategic goal
The project will be funded by the Russian federal budget, indicating significant long-term investments necessary for geological exploration without quick returns. The main focus is expected to be on the search for raw materials demanded in the modern economy, particularly strategic and rare metals.
The Kremlin’s interest in Ukrainian subsoil has increased amid complications in traditional raw material sectors for Russia. The oil industry is experiencing a crisis due to rising extraction costs, sanctions, and issues with technology and exports. This forces the Russian leadership to seek alternative sources of income, and the occupied territories of Ukraine are viewed as a primary resource base to support the budget and the military economy of Russia.
“By violating international law, Russia is attempting to compensate for its own economic failures at the expense of Donetsk’s subsoil, turning geological exploration not into a tool for regional development, but into a mechanism for the resource plundering of temporarily occupied territories,” emphasized the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.”
In fact, the occupiers are consciously using Ukraine’s natural resources to enrich Russia, which is yet another manifestation of the violation of international law and the economic plundering of Ukrainian lands.