DISINFO: Russia’s new regions contain rare earth minerals deposits that could be exploited
SUMMARY
Russia could explore the joint development of mineral deposits in the new Russian regions, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The rare earths deal US President Donald Trump’s administration is pushing for with Ukraine doesn’t concern Moscow, as Russia will be concentrating on its own development of rare-earth minerals. Russia is willing to work with international investors in developing its deposits, and this includes the new territories. Russia’s new historical territories, which were returned to the Russian Federation, hold significant reserves.
RESPONSE
This disinformation claim aims to legitimise Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territories through violent conquest and in violation of international law.
The mineral deposits this disinformation story refers to are not Russian, but Ukrainian. The mentioned territories where they are located - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - are not “Russia’s new regions”, since they remain legally part of Ukraine. The occupation of these regions took place following military aggression and sham referenda that didn’t meet any international standard to be considered legitimate. The "referendums" were held illegally, under duress, and on territories which Russia does not even fully control. See here for a full debunking of this claim.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that most rare earths promised by Zelenskyy to Trump are now in Russian regions, that Russia could negotiate a peace that considers the will of former Ukrainian territories, that the populations of the "occupied territories" in Ukraine have expressed their desire to join Russia via referendum, or that Kyiv brainwashed people of four Ukrainian regions that joined Russia in 2022.