**Russia Plans to Extract Gas from the Sea of Azov, Raising Concerns in Ukraine**
Russian authorities are planning to start gas extraction from the Sea of Azov, according to Ukrainian officials. This move has sparked concerns among Ukrainian authorities and residents about potential environmental damage and exploitation by Russian interests.
According to Ksenia Kleshchenko, acting head of communications for the Berdiansk administration, Russia’s Federal Subsoil Resources Agency (Rosnedra) has announced plans to explore and possibly develop gas fields in the Sea of Azov. These include several fields near the occupied Ukrainian city of Berdiansk.
The Russian authorities are relying on Soviet-era geological data that lists 22 potential offshore oil and gas structures, including the Morske field, which was discovered in 1977 but has not been developed since then. Ukrainian officials say this move is motivated by Russia’s interest in exploiting mineral resources for its own gain, rather than considering the welfare of residents in occupied territories.
**Environmental Concerns**
The Sea of Azov is a shallow body of water with an average depth of around 14 meters (about 46 feet). Any gas extraction could cause serious ecological damage to this sensitive ecosystem. The exploratory work is reportedly planned for 2026-2030, leaving many residents and officials worried about the potential consequences.
**Russia’s Growing Interest in Resource-Rich Territories**
This move by Russia follows a recent pattern of interest in resource-rich territories beyond Ukraine. In June, Russian forces took control of a major lithium deposit near the village of Shevchenko in Donetsk Oblast, one of Ukraine’s most valuable sites for this mineral used in electric vehicle batteries.
Ukraine has lost two of its four known lithium deposits to Russian occupation, including the Kruta Balka deposit in Zaporizhzhia. This loss comes as Ukraine holds about one-third of the European Union’s lithium reserves.
**A Statement from Ukrainian Authorities**
The Berdiansk administration released a statement saying that Russia’s plans are focused on enriching themselves and the Russian Federation, not on the welfare of residents in occupied territories. “While residents of Berdiansk face constant water and electricity outages,” they say, “(Russian authorities) are laying grand schemes to exploit the region’s resources.”
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