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US closes investigation into 2024 Delta Air Lines melting down sparked by CrowdStrike failure
The Trump?administration announced on Monday that it had?closed?an?investigation, without seeking penalties, into a July 20, 2024 meltdown of Delta Air Lines sparked a global outage which disrupted the plans of 1.3 millions customers and cost $500 million to the carrier. Biden's administration launched an investigation into Delta after the CrowdStrike computer software outage. Other major carriers had been able to quickly resume normal operations. The U.S. Transportation Department spokeswoman said that the review revealed "Delta passengers received prompt refunds and adequate baggage assistance as well as appropriate?assistance to passengers with disabilities." USDOT, under President Donald Trump's administration, has rolled back some of the consumer protection initiatives announced by then-President Joe Biden. It has also reversed?a number?of penalties. Delta stated in a statement that it was thankful USDOT acknowledged "the catastrophic circumstance we faced as an Industry during the unprecedented outage" and dismissed the investigation by citing our care for customers. This included millions of dollars of refunds, hotel, food, and baggage assistance. USDOT stated that its decision to close the investigation included a directive to Delta to "provide adequate customer service assistance, including timely notification of your right to request a refund." Politico was the first to report on Monday that this decision was made back in November. USDOT waived an $11 million fine on Southwest Airlines in 'December. This was part of a settlement for $140 million over the airline's meltdown during a busy travel season. As part of the settlement, American Airlines was also required to pay $16,7?million in 2024. This was due to their treatment of wheelchairs and disabled passengers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed its investigation last month into airlines that failed to comply with the required flight reductions at 40 major airports in 2025 during the government shutdown, without seeking any fines.
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Native Taiwanese paddle to the Philippines to reconnect a long-lost route
A group of native Taiwanese paddled to the Philippines in a wooden canoe that they built themselves, revitalizing a route that had been dormant for hundreds of years and reestablishing a cultural connection. The indigenous Batanes Islands, located north of Luzon in the Philippines, are also closely related to Taiwan's Orchid island. The 20-seater canoe named Ovayan, or "Golden Friendship", was built by six communities in Orchid Island, as part of an official project. It will take 24 hours to complete the trip, with 60 people rotating between support ships and taking turns rowing. Maraos is the chairperson of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation, and he himself is an Orchid Island tao. He said that his goal was to reconnect?the forgotten sea route. Maraos (who only goes by one name) said, "With this project, we're re-establishing a sea route between Orchid Island to Batanes. This will allow our cultures and language to continue being transmitted." Hsieh Hsiu Hsiung, a rower, stated that the boat was accompanied by another vessel for safety purposes. Hsieh, who is 61 and a diving instructor, said: "We are no longer afraid because we have modern vessels sailing with us." In the past, our ancestors may have used the stars and moon to guide them while sailing. The 'Tao' are one of Taiwan's smaller indigenous groups, with only a population of?around 5 000. Less than 3 % of Taiwan's 23,000,000 people are indigenous groups. Orchid Island, a popular tourist attraction, is often cut off from Taiwan by bad weather and its isolation. The 'Bashi Channel' is a strategic waterway that connects the South China Sea with the Pacific. Chinese warships patrol the area. Maraos said: "We hope this voyage can be respected by all nations," Maraos said. We do not want our ships or warships to be harassed while at sea by other nations. (Reporting and editing by Kate Mayberry; Ben Blanchard, Ben Blanchard's writing; Ann Wang, Cheng-Chia Hua; Ann Wang)
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EU lawmakers continue to pay compensation for delayed flights
The European Parliament agreed Monday that the EU should keep the current three hour flight delay threshold as the compensation threshold in its next set of airline passenger's rights. This agreement ended a decade-long debate. On 'Friday, the 27 member states agreed to maintain the current level compensation for airlines in case of delay. More than a decade before, the European Commission, which is the EU executive branch, proposed to reduce the amount passengers are entitled to. This issue pitted airlines who demanded greater flexibility in order to "remain competitive" against consumer protection organizations. Both sides have lobbied EU Institutions for many years. According to rules that have been in place since 2004, passengers who are delayed more than three hours may be entitled to compensation ranging from EUR250 ($290.05),?upto EUR600, depending upon the length of their flight. After years of debate the EU countries and European Parliament agreed to the status quo. The member states and the parliament have agreed that airlines can charge for large bags as long as they offer free small bags. They also agree to include the fee for cabin baggage in the basic ticket price. Consumers who choose to opt out of the agreement will receive discounts. The aim of the measure is to increase 'price transparency and comparison. These fees were widely criticized by consumer rights associations across the EU. This sparked a political fight in 2024 when the Spanish Consumer Rights Ministry fined low-cost airlines EUR179,000,000 for charging them. The airlines have appealed against the fine. These countries have also enacted rules allowing an accompanying adult?to sit near a child?without paying a fee, and forcing airlines to provide?more services in the event of missed connections. The law also prohibited airlines from forcing their passengers to download an app on their mobile phones to obtain a boarding card, a practice Ryanair began in November.
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There are some flights to the Middle East that have resumed but there is still disruption.
Some airlines have begun to restore some flights in the Middle East, although many suspensions remain in place following the U.S. and Israeli?strikes against Iran in February that disrupted global travel. Here is a list of the current status of airline flights in alphabetical order. AEGEAN AIRLINES Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv flights were cancelled by Greece's biggest carrier until 26 June. Dubai flights are cancelled through August 31. Erbil, Baghdad and Erbil flights will be cancelled until September 30. AIRBALTIC AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, has canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until the 28th of June. AIR CANADA Canadian Airlines has canceled flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until October 24. AIR EUROPA Spanish Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv up until the 28th of June. AIR FRANCE-KLM Air France suspends Tel Aviv flights through June 21 and Beirut and Dubai flights through June 24. KLM has suspended flights from Dubai to Riyadh until August 2, and until July 26 to Dammam and Riyadh. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines has suspended its flights to Dubai and Riyadh through August 31. The U.S. carrier suspended service for the Atlanta-Tel Aviv routes?through December 18th. The airline plans to resume New York JFK to Tel Aviv flight on September 6. Boston to Tel Aviv service, which was scheduled to launch in late October, will now be delayed. FINNAIR It has canceled its Doha flights and will continue to avoid Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and the airspace surrounding those countries. The airline will resume its Dubai flights in October, which are only operated during the winter season. British Airways, owned by IAG, delayed the resume of flights to Doha and Riyadh to August 8th. Flights from Amman, Bahrain, Amman, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Dubai are suspended until the end of'summer'. They are expected to resume on 25 October. When the flights resume, it plans to reduce service to Dubai, Doha and Riyadh to just one flight per day, while dropping Jeddah from its list of destinations. JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines has suspended all scheduled flights between Tokyo and Doha until August 1st, and Doha to Tokyo until July 31st. Polish Airlines has cancelled all flights to Riyadh and Beirut until 30 June. LOT will begin operating its winter route from Dubai in October. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa has announced that it will resume Tel Aviv flights as soon as July 1, whereas ITA Airways has confirmed they will resume them as of July 1. SWISS delayed the return of flights to August, while Brussels Airlines suspended its operations until October 24. The suspension of Dubai flights by Lufthansa SWISS and ITA Airways continues until September 13th. Lufthansa has suspended all flights until October 24 to Abu Dhabi, Amman Beirut, Dammam Riyadh Erbil Muscat Tehran. Eurowings, a low-cost airline, has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until July 9 and July 17, respectively. Erbil and Dubai will be affected until June 30, and Amman and Abu Dhabi until October 24. ITA Airways also?extended its suspension of flights to Riyadh till July 31. MALAYSIA AIRLINES From July 2, the Malaysian airline will resume limited service to Doha. NORWEGIAN AIR The low-cost carrier has delayed the launch of its Tel Aviv, Beirut and other services indefinitely. No new dates have been set. QANTAS Australia's national carrier has added flights to Rome, Paris and other European destinations to meet the increased demand. The number of flights to Paris is to increase to five weekly return flights from three, and the Perth to Singapore service will go from daily to ten a week. A new?schedule for flights will be implemented gradually from mid-April until late July. ROYAL MAROC Moroccan airline announced that flights to Doha have been cancelled until 30 June. SINGAPORE Airlines In response to increased demand, the carrier has extended the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai flights until August?2. It also added services on Singapore-London Gatwick (late March) and Singapore-Melbourne (late March-October 24). TURKISH AIRLINES SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa has cancelled flights from Dubai to Bahrain until June 30, and Erbil, Beirut, and Erbil to July 14. WIZZ AIR Low-cost airlines have suspended flights from Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until mid-September. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed. Elviira Lioma, Tiago Branao, Agnieszka Olesska, Bernadette HOG, Alexander Klyve Gudbrandsen, Romolo TOSIANI, Boleslaw LaSocki). Matt Scuffham and Alexander Smith edited by Susan Fenton, Milla Nissi-Prussak Jonathan Ananda Joe Bavier, Louise Heavens, Louise Heavens, Louise Heavens, Louise Heavens, Louise Heavens, Louise Heavens, Louise Heaven, Bernadette Hogg, Romolo Tosiani.
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Sources say that Tatneft Russian's TANECO refinery halts its operations following a drone attack
Two industry sources have confirmed that the TANECO oil'refinery in Russia has suspended all crude 'processing after a drone attack on June 12th. Sources said that the fires and strike at the refinery led to the closure of both primary processing units: CDU-6 with a capacity?of 20,000 tonnes per day, or 45% of the total capacity?of the refinery,?and CDU-7 which?processes more than 23,000 tons each day. Tatneft did not reply to our request for a comment. TANECO is one of Russia's technologically most advanced refineries. It has?hydrocracking and catalytic cracking units, as well as delayed?coking?units. According to data from the industry, TANECO will process 17.0 million metric tons of crude oil in 2024. This will result in 2.7 millions tons of'motor gasoline', 8.5million tons of diesel fuel, and 1.3million tons of petroleum coke. Tomaszjanowski, Editor (Reporting)
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Airbus CEO criticises European regulatory costs when it opens new line
Airbus' head urged France and the European Union to tackle high regulatory and other costs that are weighing businesses down. He also said the issue of competitiveness needs to be addressed at the French presidential elections next year. Speaking to French politicians, including the transport minister of the country, at the opening of a new assembly in Toulouse in the south of France CEO?Guillaume Faury cited labour and energy costs. He called the cost?of European regulatory obstacles "absolutely horrendous". Faury spoke at the opening of a new assembly?line for the A321neo, the most popular narrowbody model. Airbus is aiming to increase the production speed of these models. This is the second line of this kind in the vast Toulouse factory that was once dedicated to the A380 superjumbo, the world's biggest airliner. Boeing, the arch-rival of the U.S., is 'also expanding production in its former 747 jumbo factory to produce its competing 737 MAX. The planemakers are reshaping their historic wide body factories to make a?way for...smaller planes which dominate today's market. Faury, a French aviation worker and politician, told workers at the former A380 factory outside Toulouse that the production of medium-haul aircraft like the A321neo is "at the core of Airbus's strategy". Airbus' A320 medium-haul family, which includes the A321neo, has surpassed Boeing's recently-problematic 737 in terms of sales. (Reporting and editing by Kirsty Donovan, Milla Nissi Prussak and Tim Hepher)
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El Al Airlines of Israel signs an internet deal with El Musk's Starlink
El Al Israel Airlines announced on Monday that it had?signed a contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink?to provide high-speed Internet across its entire fleet from next year. The financial details of the agreement were not revealed. Israel's flag-carrier said SpaceX's Starlink would be offered at no additional cost and would allow for hundreds of passengers to connect simultaneously. This would include long-haul flights. Fast in-flight Wi Fi has become a key perk for premium airlines to attract customers. Starlink, the company that operates two-thirds (or more) of the satellites in space and generates most of SpaceX's revenue, has signed up 11 new airline clients in 2026. Amazon is a competitor. El Al's Chief Executive Levy Halevy said that the integration of Starlink technology in El Al aircraft was a major step forward. Customers can now "stay connected while flying, watch live streaming, and work and communicate without interruption." The airline's fleet is a relatively young Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which it expects to grow in the coming years as well as expanding its route network. The airline has also ordered Boeing 737 MAX planes for flights to 'Europe. El Al has seen its profits increase since the Gaza War began in October 2023. Many foreign airlines have suspended flights to Israel. This is expected to change, however, if the agreement between Washington, D.C. and Tehran to stop the Iran war remains intact. Delta and United, two of the biggest U.S. airlines, have already announced that they will resume flights to Tel Aviv in September. Ookla, an analytics company, says that Starlink is faster than older systems because it uses low-Earth orbit satellites instead of geostationary satellites. (Reporting and editing by Steven Scheer, Kirby Donovan, Joe Bavier.)
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The producers call the IMO's definition of Brazil corn-ethanol carbon footprint as a milestone.
Industry executives said that the International Maritime Organization decision defining Brazilian corn ethanol's carbon foot print is a historic step. It could position maritime transport as a future major market for this?sector. The IMO set the default value for the carbon footprint of Brazilian corn ethanol at 20.8 grams CO2e per megajoule in May. This was specifically referring biofuels produced from the second or intermediate corn crop of the country. According to the IMO, the average greenhouse gas fuel consumption in shipping is currently 93.3 grams per megajoule. Gustavo Mariano is vice president of Inpasa's trading division. He said that the IMO has defined a value for Brazilian corn ethanol, which is a major step in establishing regulations to regulate lower-carbon fuels. Mariano, in an interview said that the event was "historic and symbolic" and confirmed corn ethanol's position as a viable fuel for decarbonization. Brazil's ethanol production has been dominated for decades by sugarcane farmers. According to the industry association UNEM however, corn ethanol production soared to nearly 10 billion liters during the 2025/26 seasons, up from 2,65 billion liters when the decade began. Rafael Abud is the chief executive officer of FS Fueling sustainability, a corn ethanol manufacturer. He said that once biofuels are approved for shipping, producers may benefit from possible premiums. Abud stated that "we have invested heavily in every aspect of our product to decarbonize it," citing efforts to reduce emissions from biomass, industrial efficiency, and a project to combine bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, which could make FS ethanol carbon-negative. Brazil's second crop corn ethanol won't compete with other biofuels like sugarcane and biodiesel because of the size of the shipping industry, executives say. Instead, it will complement these fuels. Mariano stated that "if the global bunker market was converted into ethanol, it would equal almost 400 billion liters," Mariano. These volumes are so huge that we require all biofuels. Reporting by Oliver Griffin, Editing by Will Dunham
Welcome to the 'New Russia:' How the Kremlin remade occupied Ukraine
Black smoke, burning tracks and blazing trains
The footage posted by Ukrainian fighters online documents their repeated sabotage attack on a vast rail system being constructed by Russia in the occupied territory of Ukraine. Their efforts aren't enough to stop the rapid industrial expansion of Moscow.
Orest, a Ukrainian fighter operating behind enemy lines, in the Donetsk Region, uses his military call sign for reasons of security. He said that the railroad was hundreds of kilometers long. "We're not all-powerful, unfortunately."
According to the Kremlin these occupied areas represent "Novorossiya", New Russia. It's a hive of activity.
A new investigation found that while Moscow is waging a brutal war against Ukrainian forces in the west, the country has been pouring hundreds and millions of dollars in a years-long aggressive buildup of transport and trading infrastructure in areas it?has captured to the east and south.
Reporting shows that the spending spree dwarfs other Russian regions' development funds and facilitates transport of troops, military equipment, grain, and mineral resources. Moscow also has a long-term objective in mind with the construction projects: to weave the seized territory into Russia. This includes the Donbas region, whose fate is at the center of the U.S.-backed peace talks.
Reporting provides the first detailed picture of how Russia-held Ukraine is changing under occupation. This analysis is based on the analysis of thousands satellite images, official Russian documents, public statements, freight and export data, and interviews with over three dozen Ukrainian officials.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian president, used Crimea to illustrate the Russian infrastructure building in occupied territories. He said that the Russian investments in Crimea are only a "facade", and don't actually benefit the residents of the Ukrainian Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. In an interview, he stated that "it doesn't seem like a modern resort." "It is all militarized." Zelenskiy’s office did not respond to an inquiry for comments on the findings of the investigation.
Officials at the White House said that President Donald Trump wants to stop the senseless killing and is doing everything he can to bring an end to the war.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said that the four territories were an integral part and "subjects" of Russia. He added: "It's written in the Constitution of the Country."
The construction of the Novorossiya Railways System is already underway. This system includes a 525 km (326 mile) planned line that will be completed in 2023, one year after Russia invaded Ukraine. The route will span the regions Donetsk, Luhansk (which comprise the Donbas), Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
In the meantime, the Novorossiya highway is carving its way through those seized territory as part of an 1,400 km superhighway "Azov Circle" loop which will connect these regions with Russia and strategic Crimea.
Under the Russian flag, occupied Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov (which connects the Black Sea to the inland Sea of Azov) that were mostly inactive during the early years of the conflict have been reopened and renovated. Satellite images from last August show that a new facility, about the size of a football field, has been built on the docks of Mariupol city in Donetsk during the Russian occupation. A mountain of coal-looking material is also visible in the area.
Satellite analysis conducted by used a machine learning model to scan through thousands of radar and optical images in order to identify major construction. The analysis found that between 2022-2025, more than 2,500 km worth of roads, highways, and railroads were built, upgraded, or repaired in the four occupied territory and nearby Russian regions.
According to Karolina HIRD, a Washington-based national security fellow with the Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin's investment in infrastructure and its long-term nature show that it has no intention of returning the territories as part of a future peace agreement.
She said that "the way Russia invests heavily in the industry and economy of occupied Ukraine so it can reap profit off the occupation also financially entangles Ukraine with Russia."
This is a bad news for Ukraine, and its European allies. They insisted on Moscow returning the captured land, and rejected U.S. demands that Kyiv cede the entire Donbas to the United States as part of a deal to end this four-year conflict.
Russian auction documents reveal that Moscow also has put up for sale dozens of valuable commodity assets located in occupied areas. Documents from the Russian state auction show that Moscow has also put dozens of prized commodity assets in the occupied?areas up for sale.
The Russian Transport Ministry and Novorossiya Railways - a Russian state enterprise established in 2023 for the purpose of overseeing rail construction and maintenance on occupied territory - did not respond to questions about the status of infrastructure projects.
Moscow is not shy about its claim on eastern Ukraine and the southeastern part of the country, or its desire to combine the two regions into what it calls the motherland. Vladimir Putin also has big plans for the "Novorossiya", a term that refers to Russia's imperial past, which modern nationalists have adopted.
According to an online analysis of data from the government, Russia has allotted about $11.8 billion in federal cash between 2024-2026 to develop four occupied territories of Ukraine as part of its program of priority national development projects. The data show that this is nearly three times more than the money allotted to 20 other federal regions for similar projects.
Putin's vision for the territories was outlined in a speech he gave on the 30th of September to mark the third anniversary since their "reunification". The president claimed that the regions suffered from decades of neglect and the effects of war. He said that Russia has built 6,350 km worth of roads in the region over the past three years.
"A large-scale socio-economic program has been launched. It is essentially a programme of revitalizing our ancestral and historical Russian lands," declared?Putin.
Moscow controls about one fifth of Ukraine. This includes the majority of four regions, Donetsk Luhansk Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. It has also formally claimed that all four regions are part of Russia.
Ukraine and its Western partners have condemned Russia's move towards annexing the territories as an illegal land grab.
According to the local and Moscow authorities, vehicles and trains transporting people and goods into and out of Ukraine can already circumvent the Crimean Bridge. The bridge was Russia's sole road and rail connection to Crimea. It allowed the transportation of troops, fuel, and equipment via the peninsula. The bridge has been a major chokepoint in the Russian military and commercial flows. Ukrainian strikes have caused delays and disruptions.
Vadym Skibiskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's HUR Military Intelligence Agency, which has been tracking enemy activity, said that the Russians were focusing on building up supply chains to support the war effort.
Infrastructure is the most important issue for Russians. "It is the transport infrastructure," said he.
SATELLITE IMAGERY REVEALS NEW RAILWAY
According to online statements made by Novorossiya Railways in August of last year and the Russian Rail Watchdog, since 2023 Russia has spent $425 million for the construction and maintenance the railway network within the occupied territory.
According to the official Russian media outlet, the centrepiece project is a main line connecting southern Russia with Crimea via occupied territories. The full cost was not specified.
Satellite images taken between July 2023 to November 2025 show the gradual process of a new section of line being laid. This 60-km link between the towns Novoselivka, Kolosky, and Donetsk Region, north of Mariupol.
An official of the Ukrainian intelligence service who monitors Russian activities said that this connection was an example of Russia building new rail connections further away from the front lines, at a safe distance from potential Ukrainian strikes, in order to deliver ammunition and military vehicle to its troops. Couldn't determine whether the line was in operation.
State tender documents reveal that the Russian roads program also absorbs hundreds of millions of dollar, with the Novorossiya Highway Project leading this charge.
According to Russia's official procurement website, 20 tenders totaling more than $214 millions have been awarded contractors. These projects are diverse, ranging from engineering studies to bridge maintenance. The Russian Transport Ministry announced late last year an additional $123 million will be spent on roads in 2026.
UKRAINE OFFICIAL : IT'S LIKE CRIMEA BUT FASTER
It is a mixture of upgraded and new roads that connects existing highway stretches. According to the Russian federal road agency and ministry of transport, it will cover 630 km when finished. The date of completion has not been announced.
Satellite imagery shows the construction of new bridges and interchanges as well as the enlargement of roads.
According to an analysis, road crews have finished the majority of a 100-km section between Taganrog (in southwestern Russia) and Manhush (in occupied Donetsk). The analysis also shows that Russia is building a new major bypass road around Mariupol which was levelled by early war fighting.
The Novorossiya Highway is the leg of the Azov Ring that connects the occupied territories. Officials in Russia say that they intend to finish the highway by 2030. It will connect Rostov on Don in Russia to Mariupol, Donetsk as well as cities in Zaporizhzhia or Crimea.
Olha Kuryshko, Ukraine's representative to Crimea is responsible for monitoring the rights and welfare of Ukrainians who live there. Kuryshko says that Russia is accelerating its efforts to build economic infrastructure across eastern and southern Ukraine, just as it did with Crimea.
After annexing Crimea in 2014, Moscow embarked upon a number of ambitious projects, including a 19-km road span and two power plants to ensure stable electricity for the peninsula.
Kuryshko said that, based on his analysis, "the?Russians" have achieved as much in the three years they've occupied these new territories as in the 10 years they occupied Crimea. She added, "They have done it so quickly, spent so many dollars, and taken everything to the next level from what they did before in Crimea." "Crimea served as their training ground."
KREMLIN COMMANDERS UKRAINE'S PORKS
Russia is also moving to reclaim the occupied Ukrainian ports on the Sea of Azov. The Sea of Azov is a shallow inland waterway that borders Russia and Ukraine, connecting to the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait. Since centuries, the Sea of Azov is a major trading route.
Kyiv has condemned the addition of Mariupol and Berdiansk in the Azov Sea to a list of Russian ports that are open to international ships. The canals that lead to both hubs have been widened and deepened, allowing larger ships to pass through them again. These projects are part of the construction tenders worth over $13 million for the two Russian ports that have been listed on the Russian government procurement website since 2023.
The port, according to two dock workers who requested anonymity and spoke about the port's recent growth, has been significantly busy in recent months. They said that vessels are arriving and departing loaded with grain or coal. However, activity is still below the pre-war level.
According to an analysis of LSEG vessel tracking data, between July and November last, 18 cargo ships operated by Russian and other companies were recorded leaving Mariupol and Berdiansk ports. The majority headed for Turkish ports. We couldn't tell what the vessels were transporting. The Turkish authorities have not responded to our request for comments on these journeys.
LSEG data shows that in 2024, there were no ships entering or leaving the two ports.
The Russians extract valuable natural resources in the occupied territories.
Russian customs data provided by an export data provider shows that, between March 2022 to March 2025 at least 508,500 tons of coal and coke, worth $13.2million, were exported from occupied areas. According to data, the main buyers of Ukrainian coke during this period were trading firms from Turkey and United Arab Emirates. According to the data, coal was also sold to companies in India and Indonesia as well as Egypt and Algeria.
Indonesia's Foreign Ministry said that the country's trading relations are transparent and it imports coal, among others, from Russia, Australia, and China. The other countries that are the destination of coal imports did not respond to any requests for comment.
GOLD MINING IN EASTERN UKRAINE
Moscow also expanded its control over natural resources in the seized Ukrainian territory via state auctions.
According to documents reviewed by the public auctions, state online auctions are selling dozens of assets, including mines, quarries, farmland, and more. The rights to extract sandstone from Luhansk's four mines, as well as crushed stone, chalk, and granite, have been sold.
The rights to develop the Bobrykivske Gold Mine in Luhansk has been one of the largest sales so far. According to the documents of sale, it was purchased for $9.7million by Alchevskpromgroup which is owned by Russian mining company Polyanka. Polyanka mainly develops mines at the far east of Russia.
Bobrykivske’s reserves consist of about 1.64 tonnes of gold. This would be worth nearly $260 million at current spot prices based on the documents.
Korab Resources, an Australian mining company, had been developing the site. Korab Resources had been developing the site in the past. But the Australian mining company stopped its work when the area became seized by Russian-backed rebels. This made it impossible for Korab to gain access to the region which was under Western sanctions.
Satellite images taken in September of the deposit showed tire tracks around the site. Karpinski said that the site had been in operation since June 2024 when asked to compare images taken then with those from September. He pointed out an excavator that appeared in the main pit, and shipping containers at the base of the stockpile.
Alchevskpromgroup and Polyanka did not respond to any questions regarding the sale of Bobrykivske and whether or not work has begun on the site.
Hird of the Institute for the Study of War said that occupying a large area of land comes with significant costs. She added that Russia's ability harness the natural resources and industrial potential of these regions could be important for its finances. These have been severely affected by the war effort as well as international sanctions.
Hird stated that "that can start tipping scales to the point where occupation becomes profitable for Russia." Reporting by Anastasiia Melenko, FilippLebedev, GlebStolyarov and Mari Saito. Additional reporting by PolinaNikolskayaDevitt, Marian PrysiazhniukMarine Delrue, Dan Flynn and PravinChar.
(source: Reuters)