The landscape resembles the surface of an alien planet. Towering, pointed mounds of soil encircle vast frozen ponds, while enormous craters and sandy earth stretch across the horizon. A colossal rectangular metal box, equipped with a long metallic arm and a massive scoop, digs into the ground, swinging back and forth to deposit its load onto growing piles of dirt. This surreal scene is one of Ukraine’s open-pit titanium mines, a key resource that has caught the attention of former U.S. President Donald Trump as he prepares to sign a deal with Kyiv to access the country’s minerals, rare earths, and other raw materials.
Located in the Zhytomyr region in northwest Ukraine, the mine is operated by Group DF, an international conglomerate founded by a Ukrainian businessman. According to the company’s director of mining, Dmytro Holik, Ukraine is Europe’s titanium hub, with vast reserves that could take over 200 years to fully extract. At this site alone, 15 years of excavation has only scratched the surface of its potential.
The mine produces approximately 15,000 tonnes of ilmenite monthly, a black iron-titanium oxide mineral used in products ranging from paint to dental implants. Titanium’s lightweight and durable properties also make it valuable for weapons manufacturing, though the Zhytomyr site currently focuses on civilian applications.
Holik emphasized that foreign investment, particularly from the U.S., could be a game-changer for Ukraine’s mining industry. “There’s an abundance of raw materials,” he said. “Local investors lack the financial capacity for large-scale factories and advanced technologies. A major international investor with a long-term vision could transform the sector.”
With its wealth of expertise in scientists, engineers, and skilled professionals, Ukraine is poised to become a global leader in mineral extraction—if it secures the necessary investment and partnerships.
