Ukraine is under increasing pressure due to Russia’s announcement of plans to begin gas extraction from the Sea of Azov. According to the Berdiansk Municipal Military Administration, Russia’s Federal Subsoil Resources Agency (Rosnedra) has declared commercial reserves of gas in the region, citing Soviet-era geological data and identifying up to 22 potential offshore fields. These include several located near the occupied city of Berdiansk, raising alarms among Ukrainian officials.
Ksenia Kleshchenko, acting head of communications for the Berdiansk administration, emphasized that while the Morske field was discovered in 1977 and remains under conservation, further exploration and pilot operations are being planned. She also pointed out that the Pivnichno-Kazantypske and Skhidno-Kazantypske fields were identified during Ukraine’s independence but had not been developed. Ukrainian company Chornomornaftogaz had previously conducted surveys at these sites before Russia annexed Crimea and seized Ukrainian offshore assets in 2014.
Ukrainian authorities allege that Russia’s interest in mineral resources, including the Sea of Azov, may have been a motivating factor in the occupation of southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, including Berdiansk. The administration criticized the Kremlin’s actions, stating that while residents of Berdiansk face ongoing water and electricity outages, Russian authorities are pursuing resource exploitation schemes that prioritize their own economic interests over the well-being of the local population.
The potential environmental impact of gas extraction in the Sea of Azov is also a major concern. Given the shallow average depth of the sea, around 14 meters (about 46 feet), any extraction could lead to significant ecological damage. The exploratory work is expected to begin around 2026 and continue through 2030.
Beyond the Sea of Azov, Russia’s interest in resource-rich areas extends further. In June, Russian forces took control of a major lithium deposit near Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, one of Ukraine’s most valuable sites for electric vehicle batteries. Ukraine has now lost two of its four known lithium deposits to Russian occupation, including the Kruta Balka deposit in Zaporizhzhia. According to the Kyiv School of Economics, Ukraine holds about one-third of the European Union’s lithium reserves.