Russian forces have taken control of Shevchenko village in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region. This area is close to one of Ukraine’s major lithium reserves and is considered very important from a strategic point of view. After three years of war, this gain is being seen as a major success for Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed that its troops have captured both Shevchenko and another nearby village called Novosergiivka. However, Ukraine has not yet officially responded to this claim.
Why Shevchenko is important
Shevchenko is located near the border of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. It lies close to a large lithium deposit spread across about 40 hectares. Back in 1982, Soviet geologists had discovered a huge amount of lithium here, which is found at a depth that makes it suitable for commercial mining. Because lithium is used in making batteries and other modern technologies, this area holds a lot of value.
Russia’s interest in lithium
A Russian-appointed official in Donetsk, Igor Klimakovsky, said that Ukraine had deployed many soldiers in Shevchenko because of the large lithium reserves found there. He added that once the situation in the area becomes stable, Russia plans to develop the region for mining.
Confusion over earlier reports
Back in January, some Russian news outlets wrongly reported that the lithium-rich village of Shevchenko had already been captured. However, it turned out they had confused it with a different village that had a similar name.
Why Lithium matters
Lithium is considered one of the most important and valuable metals in the world today. It is widely used in the production of batteries for smartphones, electric cars, and various advanced technologies. According to reports, Ukraine has around 500,000 tonnes of lithium, while Russia is believed to possess nearly twice that amount. Because of this, regions like Shevchenko hold significant importance for both nations.
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