We are not getting the whole story from the propaganda press outlets. Putin is not just some madman attacking Ukraine simply to bolster his ego. These are strategic maneuvers to be sure. Here are some resources that explain why Ukraine is very valuable.
As Russian Forces Roll into Eastern Ukraine, Putin Grabs Yet Another Prize: Ores And Energy – Forbes, 2022/02/23
When Russian military forces began moving into the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders Monday night, they began to regain a long-missed prize: Donbas.
“Donbas” is short for the Donets Coal Basin — one of the largest mining regions in Europe. Coal reserves under its rolling plains cover approximately 9,000 square miles (23,300 square km) south of the Donets River and deposits also extend westward to the Dnieper River.
Contemporary estimates of the amount of coal within Donbas are difficult to come by. Production output peaked in the 1970s at around 200 million tons. Reserves of class A, B, and C coal were put at 57.5 billion tons in 2000. That coal and the area’s coal mines will be welcomed by Russia, likely contributing to the country’s just announced deal to provide China with 100 million tons of the black rock in coming years.
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Donbas’ coal deposits are joined by significant methane gas reserves estimated in excess of 59 trillion cubic feet and 1.6 billion barrels of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
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Iron ores are also present in major quantities. By 1990, Ukrainian steel production represented 17 percent of the USSR’s vast output. The Donbas steel and iron industry declined through the 1990s and early 2000s but rebounded to producing 40% of Ukraine’s steel (13.3 million tons) in 2013. USGS ranks Ukraine as the world’s fifth-largest holder of crude iron ore reserves (18 billion tons).
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PUTIN WANTS UKRAINE’S RICH RESOURCES – Education News, 2022/02/25
This article details the resources – coal, oil and natural gas, iron ore, manganese ore, and the largest titanium reserve in Europe, and the largest uranium deposit in Europe.
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The Forgotten Potential of Ukraine’s Energy Reserves – Harvard International Review, 2020/10/20
Over the last several years, the future of the European energy supply has become an increasingly geopolitical topic. It has become more and more linked to the questions of security, competing gas transportation routes, and continuously tense Ukrainian-Russian relations.
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Excluding Russia’s gas reserves in Asia, Ukraine today holds the second biggest known gas reserves in Europe. As of late 2019, known Ukrainian reserves amounted to 1.09 trillion cubic meters of natural gas, second only to Norway’s known resources of 1.53 trillion cubic meters. Yet, these enormous reserves of energy remain largely untapped. Today, Ukraine has a low annual reserve usage rate of about 2 percent. Moreover, more active exploration may yield previously undiscovered gas fields, which would further increase the overall volume of Ukraine’s deposits.
If you read through the article, it explains the lack of funds and investment to utilize the natural resources for Ukraine’s benefit. Putin is obviously aware of the untapped potential.
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