Vast, desolate expanses of sand strewn with colossal craters and colossal earthen mounds dominate the landscape, as if plucked straight from the setting of a science fiction film. Lush fields and marshes give way to a checkerboard of metallic sheen, where deep trenches and pits mark the mining operations extensive reach across Ukraine’s titan富 minerals expanse.

A behemoth of machinery, resembling a monstrous mechanical claw, excavates the land atop a plateau encrusted with frost. It gnaws at the earth, unearthing immense sections of terrain, and catechizes the exhumed material onto a sprawling heap of dirt.

This locale is attributed to Ukraine’s open-pit titanium mines—a prized natural wealth that Donald Trump might covet as he moves to strike a deal with Kyiv to harness Ukraine’s minerals, rare earths, and other raw materials.

The operation is sited in the Zhytomyr region, sprawled across the northwestern expanse of the country under the aegis of Group DF, a constellation of international enterprises spearheaded by a Ukrainian tycoon.

‘Barely scratching the surface’

The mine’s executive, responsible for digging and concentration operations, informed Sky News that extracting titanium ore from all corners of Ukraine would require a minimum of 200 years—a task stretching well beyond current projections.

At this facility alone, the venture has cut into the crust of the earth for 15 years but has only just begun to breach the depths.

“Ukraine stands as Europe’s titan of titanium—an indisputable reality,” asserts Dmytro Holik, Group DF’s Director of Mining and Concentration Plant.

“Our plant churns out around 15,000 tonnes of ilmenite monthly, or roughly 200,000 tonnes per annum. A tonne’s worth stands at about $250.

Investment seen as a ‘game-changer’

Ilmenite, a black iron-titanium oxide mineral and central titanium ore, is critical to myriad applications from pigments to dental fixtures.

As a lightweight, robust metal, it also has significant implications for armaments.

Nevertheless, the titanium extracted here is reserved for civilian applications.

Mr Holik is open to American or other international investment, perceiving it as a way to bolster Ukraine’s capabilities in mineral resource extraction.

“We are teeming with raw materials,” he explains. “Currently, our local investors lack the financial clout to fund large-scale factories, deep-processing facilities, and advanced tech…

“If a major international stakeholder steps in with a long-term vision, beyond five or ten years to something nearer to 40 or 50 — that would be transformative.”

The director emphasizes his nation’s wealth of expertise, where the expertise of scientists, engineers, and other adept specialists is unmatched.

Further reading:
What is Russia’s next target?
Who supports Ukraine the most?
Kyiv and Washington strike minerals agreement

Sky News was granted a thorough walkthrough of the mining site to witness the act of pulling titanium ore from the undulating sands.

A digger, the colossal mechanical digger, is deployed to bore through an upper layer of grass-inlaid clay down to approximately 15 meters deep.

This is the sitting place for ilmenite. Achieving this may span around half a year.

The mechanical titan then toils a further six months, tediously scooping up enormous chunks of sand—some 20 tonnes per dig—to dive 15 to 20 meters down.

The sand is laden with varying grades of titanium ore—from a mere 1% to a rich 10%.

It’s mixed with water and then conveyed via vast pipes outfitting the mine, connected to two processing centers.

In one facility, the titanium is enriched to 70%.

Read more from Sky News:
Hamas releases last hostages
Starmer meets Trump in Washington
Spacecraft launched to survey asteroid

At that junction, the titanium is ready for export.

When a parcel of land has been mined, the company reports that it backfills the craters to minimize long-term environmental damage.

“Once the valuable minerals are extracted and the remaining substance returns from the plant—where all 100% of materials go, although only 5% is valuable titanium ore—the residual 95% is back here, scattered, and the land will be restored,” Mr Holik said.

“Tree planting is part of our effort to reclaim the land.”