Occupiers Sell Gold Ore Deposit in Temporarily Occupied Luhansk Region for $9.7 Million

In the temporarily occupied territories of the Luhansk region, the sale of rights to develop the Bobrykivske gold ore deposit has occurred, which has become a notable step in the ongoing systematic appropriation of Ukraine's natural resources by the Russian Federation. This information was reported by Oleksiy Kharchenko, the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, on his Telegram channel, as conveyed by Ukrinform.

According to Kharchenko, the agreement for the sale of the rights to develop the deposit amounted to $9.7 million. The rights to exploit the Bobrykivske deposit have been acquired by a company called LLC 'Alchevskpromgroup', which is controlled by the Russian mining company 'Polyanka'. This company previously operated mainly in the Far East of the Russian Federation, highlighting its connections to Russian business interests.

The reserves of the Bobrykivske deposit are estimated to contain approximately 1.64 tons of gold, which could be valued at nearly $260 million on the market. This significant disparity between the sale price and the actual market value of the resource indicates the formal nature of the auction and the actual transfer of the asset to controlled structures, Kharchenko noted.

It is important to highlight that the sale of natural resources in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine is part of a broader policy by the Russian Federation aimed at exploiting Ukrainian resources without any legal grounds. This raises serious concerns among Ukrainian officials and international observers, as such actions violate international law and undermine Ukraine's sovereignty.

Furthermore, as reported by Ukrinform, the Russian State Duma recently passed a law that allows for the recognition of apartments and houses in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as 'ownerless' and permits their confiscation. This decision further complicates the situation for property owners who remain in the occupied territories and underscores Russia's aggressive intentions towards Ukrainian resources and property.

Thus, the situation surrounding the Bobrykivske gold ore deposit is merely one of many examples of how the occupiers are attempting to legitimize their actions in Ukraine by employing various mechanisms to appropriate natural resources. This situation raises concerns not only within Ukraine but also on an international level, as such actions could have serious implications for the ecology and economy of the region.

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