**Fighting Continues in Eastern Ukraine Village Near Lithium Deposits**
Tensions are running high in the village of Shevchenko, located in Donetsk Oblast, as active fighting is still taking place around the area. This comes despite reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry claiming they had captured the village and several other nearby settlements.
According to Viktor Trehubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, Russian troops pushed out Ukrainian soldiers on June 26, but the situation is constantly changing and subject to change multiple times a day. “This is one of the two most intense directions right now,” he said in an interview with the Kyiv Independent.
**Lithium Deposits at Stake**
The Shevchenkivske deposit, located near Shevchenko, covers nearly 40 hectares (98 acres) and contains significant reserves of lithium, a crucial component for electric vehicle batteries. The deposit is also rich in other rare elements such as rubidium, cesium, tantalum, niobium, beryllium, and tin.
Ukraine is home to 20 of the world’s critical minerals, including titanium used in aerospace and defense industries. In fact, Ukraine holds one-third of the European Union’s lithium reserves and approximately 3% of global lithium reserves.
**Significance of Shevchenkivske Deposit**
The Shevchenkivske deposit is considered one of the most promising in Ukraine due to its relatively small size but high complexity. According to Ukrainian Geological Survey data, the deposit could be operated by a single mine, making extraction more efficient. However, its development may face complications due to its classification in the highest complexity category.
The recent developments around Shevchenko have raised concerns about access to Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, including lithium. The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal signed on April 30 specifically mentions lithium as one of the mineral resources that both parties could profit from extracting.
As fighting continues in Eastern Ukraine, attention is focused on the Shevchenkivske deposit and its significance for global markets.
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