Russia Seizes Key Ukrainian Lithium Deposit Amid Fighting

Russian forces have seized control of the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine's Donetsk region, providing Moscow access to one of Europe’s largest lithium deposits, estimated at around 100 acres, though Ukrainian military sources dispute full occupation with heavy fighting still ongoing. The site is strategically important due to global demand for lithium used in electric vehicle batteries and advanced technologies. The loss undermines Ukraine’s leverage in a recent US-Ukraine minerals deal aimed at supporting national recovery and attracting Western investment. Industry analysts warn that further Russian advances could allow Moscow to dominate additional mineral resources, threatening both Ukraine's economic prospects and Europe’s efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese and South American lithium. The seizure is part of broader Russian attempts to control resource corridors, posing long-term risks to Ukraine's postwar recovery and Western supply chains. This development underscores the vulnerability of critical mineral supply chains to military conflict and may complicate Europe’s energy transition strategies.