Violent clashes in Kursk as Russians makes more gains while Ukraine loses a priceless resource

Heavy clashes in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday, following its surprise attack on the western Russian region.

In its evening report, the Ukrainian General Staff said it had recorded 42 armed clashes in the region, 12 of which were ongoing.

“Russians in the Kursk region are very concerned because they are being attacked from several directions,” the report said.

Russian media only reported drone attacks near Kursk that were repelled.

Neither side has reported any losses, gains or changes on the front line.

Last year, Ukrainian units unexpectedly crossed the border towards the city of Kursk and made significant gains on Russian territory.

Moscow later mobilized 50,000 troops, including 10,000 North Koreans, to launch a counteroffensive that has retaken nearly half of the territory Ukraine had seized in recent months.

In addition, a Russian official said that the Ukrainian side had lost control of the largest lithium deposits in the western part of Donetsk.

“The Zelensky regime has already lost control over the largest lithium deposit in Shevchenko, which has been under the control of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for a long time… Our army is gradually moving towards the western borders of the Donetsk People’s Republic, including the territory where the enemy won’t be able to develop in Pokrovsk, Kurakhovo and Velikaya Novoselka, but which will still serve the economy of our country,” Vladimir Rogov, head of the public chamber of the Russian Committee on Sovereignty Issues said.

In addition to lithium, Rogoff noted, these deposits contain many other valuable natural resources, including niobium, beryllium and tantalum.

“The Shevchenko lithium deposits are invaluable from the point of view of their strategic importance, occupying about 40 hectares,” Rogov said.

Lithium and its compounds are used in many industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, lithium grease lubricants, lubricants used in the production of iron, steel and aluminum, lithium metal batteries, and lithium-ion batteries.

These uses consume more than three-quarters of lithium production.