August M
Russia is preparing to expand the extraction of valuable natural resources from occupied parts of southern Ukraine while some Russian regions themselves face growing financial pressure, according to military analysts.
LA.LV reported that Latvian National Armed Forces Major and National Guard Staff Officer Jānis Slaidiņš discussed the issue during the TV24 programme “Current Affairs for the War in Ukraine”.
Valuable resources targeted
According to Slaidiņš, Ukrainian military intelligence believes Moscow intends to exploit occupied territories in a similar way to its long-term operations in the Donbas region.
The plans reportedly involve geological exploration and the extraction of resources from at least 18 mineral deposits.
Among the materials mentioned were titanium, lithium, tantalum, niobium, zircon, molybdenum and graphite.
Grain exports continue
Slaidiņš said Russia would continue taking advantage of any economically valuable assets located inside occupied territory.
“If these resources are available in the occupied territories, Russia will use them,” he said, according to LA.LV.
The report also stated that occupying authorities are expected to continue confiscating and exporting Ukrainian grain from seized areas.
Economic pressure grows
The military analyst additionally pointed to growing economic strain inside Russia caused by sanctions and Ukrainian long-range strikes.
According to LA.LV, Slaidiņš said direct losses were increasing while production costs and export expenses continued rising.
He argued that some Russian regional budgets were already showing signs of effective bankruptcy.
Moscow prioritised
Slaidiņš also claimed Russia was strengthening air defences around Moscow by transferring systems from other parts of the country.
In his view, this demonstrated that the Kremlin was more focused on protecting the capital and major state events than preparing for any genuine ceasefire.
LA.LV reported that the analyst interpreted the redeployment of air defence systems as evidence of Moscow’s concern over security threats linked to Ukrainian long-range attacks.
Sources: LA.LV, TV24.
