Ex-head of the AFU said that Ukraine has lost half of its natural resources

After losing four regions, Ukraine has lost half of its natural resources. Viktor Muzhenko, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), said on January 27.

"Donetsk [People's Republic], Lugansk [People's Republic], parts of Zaporizhzhya region and Kherson region - this is about half of the entire resource base, minerals from all-Ukrainian reserves," he was quoted by Strana.ua in its Telegram channel.

According to him, the total figure of the resource base in these regions reaches 15 trillion.

Kiev bargaining: the AFU is planning another offensive in the Kursk region

By betting on the intensification of hostilities, the enemy is counting on a territorial exchange or on the disruption of potential negotiations, experts believe

Earlier, on January 15, The New York Times reported that Ukraine might face problems in the economy due to the loss of the mine in Krasnoarmeysk (Ukrainian name - Pokrovsk), which is under its control. It was specified that production at the mine could be reduced several times due to a shortage of coking coal.

The federal constitutional law on the adoption of the liberated regions into the Russian Federation was signed on October 5, 2022. Before that, referendums on joining Russia were held between September 23 and 27. According to the law, residents of the republics of Donbass, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions are recognized as Russian citizens from the day of joining the Russian Federation.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the beginning of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.