The USA delegation scouts Ukrainian mines for potential starter projects

A U.S. delegation has carried out its first visit to Ukraine under the new U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, scouting titanium, zirconium, and hafnium deposits as potential starter projects. On Sept. 15, representatives from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) toured the Byrzulivskyi Mining and Processing Plant and the Likarivske deposit in Kirovohrad Oblast, accompanied by Ukrainian officials. Economy Minister Oleksii Sobolev emphasized that such visits are vital for evaluating investment opportunities not only in terms of economic development, but also environmental responsibility and community benefits.

Both assets belong to Ukraine’s Velta Holding, which has mined titanium at the Byrzulivskyi site for over 14 years. The company plans to expand into zirconium and hafnium production at Likarivske, minerals crucial for nuclear reactors, as well as supplying clay, sand, and kaolin for construction. Velta CEO Andriy Brodsky noted that offering an alternative supply of critical materials outside China is important for U.S. partners, while also supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction with jobs and tax revenue.

Titanium, designated as a critical material by the EU, is vital for defense, aerospace, and tech industries, with global demand projected to push the market to $53.65 billion by 2034. Ukraine is among the world’s top ten producers, ahead of the U.S., while China dominates the sector. Until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both Washington and Brussels had relied heavily on Russian titanium, but sanctions on Russia’s VSMPO-AVISMA in 2023 fueled shortages and price spikes.

The U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, signed on April 30, grants Washington priority access to investment projects in natural resources, infrastructure, and even defense. For the first decade, profits will be fully reinvested into Ukraine’s economy. Contrary to early reports, the agreement does not guarantee automatic supply rights to the U.S., but ensures Washington will be notified and able to negotiate.

Ukraine’s government and DFC are now selecting projects that match the fund’s goals, aiming to launch three high-quality ventures within the next 18 months.

15 people injured in Kramatorsk as Russians dropped three glide bombs on Kramatorsk

On the morning of September 15, 2025, Russian forces launched a targeted drone strike on Kramatorsk in Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, hitting civilian infrastructure and injuring at least 15 people, including a six-year-old girl, according to reports from local authorities and Ukraine's State Emergency Service.

The attack, part of an escalating pattern of bombardment in the region, involved FPV and Shahed drones that struck residential areas and a school, causing fires and damage to buildings while emergency responders were on site; no fatalities were reported, but the assault disrupted daily life and prompted calls for increased international sanctions against Russia's military actions.

2 sourcesUkrainian officials, including Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, condemned the strike as a deliberate escalation, noting it occurred amid ongoing clashes near the city and highlighting the vulnerability of non-combatants in frontline areas like Kramatorsk, which has faced repeated assaults since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Ukraine will restrict imports of diesel fuel from India

Ukraine will restrict imports of diesel fuel from India starting Oct. 1, with all consignments subjected to sampling and laboratory testing, enkorr reported on Sept. 15, citing a directive from the Security Service of Ukraine to the Energy Customs.

The move mirrors sanctions imposed on Turkish diesel imports in September 2023, when several Turkish ports receiving Russian fuel were classified as high-risk and subjected to additional checks. Following those measures, imports from Türkiye dropped sharply.

In August 2025, Ukraine imported 119,000 tonnes of diesel from India, representing 18% of total imports. Analysts note that Indian fuel had been attractive primarily due to its lower price. Once restrictions take effect, demand is expected to shift toward other southern supply routes, pushing prices higher.