Karina Bovsunovskaya15:44, 18.03.25

The billionaire called such territories “new” for the Russian Federation.

Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin, who also heads metals giant Norilsk Nickel, said he was considering mining the minerals , saying reserves in Russia and eastern Ukraine were poorly explored, Reuters reported .

“Many deposits on our territory and on the new Russian territories (as the occupied territories of Ukraine are called in Russia – UNIAN) have not been sufficiently studied. Many geological studies and their results were lost after the Soviet Union. Therefore, now all this needs to be restored. We are thinking and working on this,” he told journalists.

Reuters emphasized that it is not immediately clear from the billionaire’s words whether Norilsk Nickel will participate in such projects.

The publication also recalled that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin proposed that the United States jointly explore Russian mineral deposits, which, as he said, are larger than those in Ukraine.

At the same time, according to Potanin, due to the small size of many deposits and difficult exploration conditions, Russian companies will need partners who can provide the necessary technologies.

“Since these are complex projects, technological support from various partners would be useful for us,” he added.

Reuters emphasized that Norilsk Nickel, a producer of refined nickel and palladium, does not yet have any license for mineral exploration.

(C)UNIAN 2025