UK says Russia is improving transport network in occupied Ukraine to move grain and minerals

4 Jul. () –

British intelligence services said on Thursday that Russia is trying to improve transport networks in the occupied areas of Ukraine in order to transport grain and minerals extracted in these areas to its territory, as part of the invasion unleashed in February 2022 by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“One of the reasons Russia is seeking to improve transport networks in occupied Ukraine is because it wants to extract more Ukrainian minerals,” they said, before stating that a senior pro-Russian official in Zaporizhia recently confirmed that the work would improve lines not only for military logistics, but for the export of goods.

They said that Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly denounced the “theft” of resources, including iron, coal, titanium, uranium, manganese, gold and lithium. “These are resources that Russia wants, but they are also potential targets, as Russia seeks to harm the Ukrainian economy,” they said.

On the other hand, they have stated that the Ukrainian authorities “continue their mining activity” in the province of Zaporizhia, “transporting iron ore by rail,” according to a statement published by the British Ministry of Defense through its account on the social network X.

“This activity is not without risk, as the trains have to travel through areas where Ukrainian partisans are known to be operating, who have already claimed responsibility for several attacks (on these lines),” the British intelligence services have stressed.