Russia plans resource exploitation in occupied Ukrainian Donetsk region – Intelligence
Russia plans to begin exploitation of subsoil resources in Ukraine's Donetsk region in 2026 (photo: Getty Images)
In 2026, Russia plans to launch a large-scale geological exploration program in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine's Donetsk region, scheduled to run until 2031, according to the press service of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
According to intelligence, the program provides for phased exploration of deposits with a focus on raw materials in demand in the modern economy, including strategic and rare metals. This is not about one-time geological field trips, but about long-term work divided into several stages.
The exploration is to be based on Soviet-era geological materials. In the post-Soviet period, research in the region effectively came to a halt, so the local authorities now plan to refine and update the data and assess the prospects of the sites for further industrial development.
Funding for the work has been declared to come from the Russian state budget, which is indicative, as geological exploration requires significant, long-term investments with little immediate return.
The Foreign Intelligence Service noted that the increased interest in Ukrainian subsoil resources is occurring amid worsening conditions in Russia's traditional raw materials sectors.
Russia's oil industry is experiencing serious difficulties: rising production costs, sanctions, and export and technology problems are forcing the Kremlin to seek alternative sources of income.
Under these conditions, temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories are viewed as a resource base to patch budget gaps and support the war economy.
In effect, this is about the targeted use of Ukrainian land and natural resources to enrich the aggressor state.
"Russia, in violation of international law, is trying to compensate for its own economic failures at the expense of the subsoil of the Donetsk region, turning geological exploration not into a tool for regional development, but into a mechanism for resource plundering of occupied territories," intelligence officials emphasized.
Sanctions against Russia
In October 2025, the United States announced sanctions against two of Russia's largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, in an effort to force Putin to the negotiating table with Ukraine. The new restrictions from Washington apply not only to the two main Russian companies but also to 36 of their subsidiaries.
Also in October, the European Union officially approved a new, already 19th, package of sanctions against Russia. The measures are aimed at reducing Kremlin revenues and preventing sanctions circumvention through third countries.
In addition, the EU has already begun preparations for a new sanctions package against Russia.
According to the latest intelligence data, due to sanctions, Russia's weekly oil export revenues have decreased by $500 million.
