More than 30 rare earth metal deposits have been identified across Ukraine, marking the country as a strategically important source of critical raw materials for sectors such as defense, energy, and high-tech manufacturing. The largest concentrations are found in the Donetsk, Kirovohrad, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing RBC-Ukraine.
Kirovohrad region is home to Ukraine’s most promising site — the Safonivske deposit — which has been designated a strategic asset. Other notable areas in the region include the Burtynske deposit and several zones with strong exploration potential. In Dnipropetrovsk region, geologists have identified the Malomykhailivske, Pereshchepyne, and Zelena Balka deposits. Donetsk region hosts the Pobuzke deposit, based on geological assessments.
Additionally, recent geological exploration has been completed in the Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Zhytomyr regions. These areas contain ilmenite-rutile-zircon sand deposits, which are particularly rich in zirconium — another element classified as a critical raw material due to its growing global demand.
Rare earth elements are becoming increasingly important as nations aim to reduce dependence on external suppliers of strategic resources. Ukraine has already approved a national list of 37 critical raw materials, which includes rare earth metals. The list also features graphite and zirconium, both of which are in high demand on the global market.
According to the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine, an active inventory of known deposits is underway, alongside ongoing geological surveys on newly identified promising sites. These efforts aim to refine reserve estimates and attract future investment in the development of strategically important resources.
Earlier we wrote that deputies approve subsoil deal without debate.