Ukraine’s total mineral resource reserves encompass about 5% of the world’s volume, including significant lithium deposits exceeding 500,000 tons, the largest in Europe. Its uranium reserves are approximately 270,000 tons, primarily concentrated in the Kirovohrad geological block, along with essential titanium ore reserves equivalent to 15 years of global production.
Meanwhile, nearly 53% of the value of total mineral resources, estimated at over $7.5 trillion, is located in regions under partial Russian occupation. These include deposits in the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in Crimea, with resources worth $205 billion, and in the Dnipropetrovsk region, valued at $3.5 trillion, which are currently at risk. A significant portion of the occupied territories contains promising deposits of lithium, graphite, uranium, rare earth elements, and manganese.
In July 2025, the Ukrainian government enacted a strategic (11 elements, including uranium and titanium) and critical (28 elements, including lithium and rare-earth minerals) minerals list. Plans include holding electronic auctions for 60 deposits and entering into production-sharing agreements for 26 deposits. While deposits in temporarily occupied territories are formally included in relevant lists, they remain inaccessible during the occupation. In April 2025, Ukraine solidified a strategic partnership with the European Union concerning critical raw materials. Later the same year, Ukrainian-American mineral agreements were signed, facilitating joint resource development contingent on investments in infrastructure restoration. Currently, China dominates the global production of most critical minerals, making Ukraine’s resources vital for diversifying global supply chains. Yet, no commercial rare-earth element mines in Ukraine are operational at present.
Ukraine’s mineral potential holds significant geopolitical importance: control over more than half of these resources enables Russia to influence global markets for critical raw materials. From the perspective of investors and partners, key risks include uncertainties about the timeline of deposit de-occupation and the requirement for substantial investments in geological exploration and infrastructure before industrial mining commences. For Western countries’ technological and defense sectors, access to Ukrainian lithium, titanium, and beryllium is a strategic measure to reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers.
