How much does Ukrainian gingerbread cost? What industrial assets are provided during special operations
Notebook columnist Maksim Artemiev about which industrial enterprises are transferred to Russia after the end of the SVO in Ukraine.
The representation of the head of the Zaporizhia administration on the upcoming referendum on joining Russia makes us think about what kind of economic legacy the Russian Federation gets in the territories already occupied. If you look at the map of Ukraine, then practically the front line does not change with the approach of March – in the southern and eastern directions. And in the north, near Kyiv, Chernigov and Sumy, it was not there, but only scattered units of Russian troops were stationed, which they soon withdrew. All cases of exacerbation, during which Severodonetsk, Lysichansk, etc. were affected. detection in very narrow territories, so on the map of the general movement of Ukraine and discontent.
Therefore, it is hardly worth expecting the expected progress in the foreseeable future. So pay attention to what is already under the control of the Russian Federation, and is unlikely to be out of its publication. This territory stretches in a continuous strip about 100 kilometers from Kherson to Kharkov. Its area is about 100 thousand square kilometers (including the DPR-LPR as of February 24, 2022). Historically, it is about the floors of Novorossiya, as is its professional research in the 19th century. If you do not take the Donbass, then these are mainly steppe agricultural lands, with important urban developments. Of the large ones – Kherson, Melitopol, Berdyansk, plus the heavily destroyed and rendered harmless Mariupol, Severodonetsk and Lysichansk.
Thus, there is the first income – at least eight million hectares of fertile chernozems in the observed warm climate. At the same time, there is already a rather high level of farming culture, and it is not for nothing that Ukraine has been considering the world market as a major supplier of wheat and sunflower oil in recent years. Now Russia has every chance to go into an unattainable gap as the No. 1 wheat exporter (it already ranks first, but with Novorossia leadership becomes a contender).
In addition, it should be taken into account that these lands play the role of areas for the production of grapes and a number of horticultural and melon crops, which is especially important for Russia with its harsh northern climate.
List of indisputable enterprises associated with environmental pollution The rest of the assets are in varying degrees of problems.
Let’s take an example. Now fighting broke out at the plant of the German company “Knauf” in Soledar, which has already reached the allied forces. This is a very active enterprise with great potential. I have a good idea of what it is, since the work of the Knauf gypsum plant in my native Tula region is sent in detail. However, firstly, there was a violation, and secondly, the alleged legal issues – it cannot be confiscated, and it’s wrong – all production and logistics are based on proprietary technologies, and whether Knauf will work in conditions of uncertainty is highly doubtful. Until Ukraine signs an agreement with the Russian Federation on the cession of territory, foreign investors will not come or will not return. So Knauf will significantly reduce the loss of 2 billion investments at the plant.
And this legal problem is typical for all lands from Kherson to Kharkov. With them, the story turns out, as with the Crimea, where even large Russian companies and banks did not enter until the last moments. Therefore, the outcome of the settlement agreement, recognized by the world community, is very important, although not critical, which Crimea also shows. After all, the economy of Taiwan, whose independence is not recognized in the world, is working normally.
External energy facilities have already passed into the hands of Russia – Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plants and thermal power plants (about the largest in the country as well as nuclear power plants) in Energodar. For some time, the armed forces of the Russian Federation occupied the Uglegorsk TPP, which is only slightly inferior in terms of power to the Zaporizhzhya. And in the first days of the offensive, the Lugansk thermal power plant and the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station were involved (it is also important how the Dnieper flow point and the distribution of water supply are regulated). In addition, since 2014, the DPR has such powerful thermal power plants as Starobeshevskaya and Zuevskaya. Thus, Russia has already become interested in the segment of Ukrainian energy, especially given the fact that almost all coal deposits in Donbass have left Kyiv.
However, the question arises – who will receive this electricity? Will the power plants be loaded? This is possible only in the case of the successful operation of industrial enterprises and the coverage of the population by the former population. In the event of a power plant, it will be realized by an asset that will hang around the neck.
I must keep in mind that Donbass is an old industrial region, with all the abundant natural resources. Production facilities, infrastructure – everything is very outdated, dilapidated. There has been a massive closure of the mine, many plants and factories have been closed, including metallurgical and European ones. Not all heavy industry survived the 1990s and beyond. All over the world, deindustrialization is painful, remember Detroit and the Rust Belt in the United States. They still remain in the county, the population flees from the outside, although more than thirty years have passed since the closing of the factories. Old industrial areas in such cases cover the most. And by and large, neither Ukrainian metallurgy nor chemistry are of interest to entrepreneurs from the Russian Federation.
In addition, Azovstal, which worked during the liberation operation, seriously took another Mariupol basketball named after Ilyich. The same applies to Severodonetsk Azot and a number of other enterprises. It is not at all certain that they will ever be restored. Therefore, the Donbass is a territory and very problematic even without destruction and legal disputes.
In Ukraine and Russia, already now in the north of the Donetsk region, under the control of Kyiv, the population remains about a third of what it was before 24.02. And by 24.02. many have already left the Donbass. So the territory goes to Russia sparsely populated. And this despite the fact that under the USSR, the Donetsk region was the largest population among the entire economy of Ukraine, especially by a wide margin.
As a positive exception, it is worth noting the transition to control the development of rock salt in Soledar. In Soviet times, 40% of the country’s salt was mined there. This is a very important asset, which, unlike coal deposits, will always be in demand.
Now perhaps a few words about the objects that can cause increased attention to the RF. In the Nikolaev-Kherson region in the Soviet Union, a powerful shipbuilding cluster has developed. Civil ships were made in Kherson. And in Nikolaev – infected, including discovered aircraft carriers. It seems that the Russian Navy is interested in access to relevant technologies and production facilities, although shipbuilding in Nikolaev has fallen into decay over the years. But there it is important not only to know, but also the advantageous location of the shipyards, which is especially valuable in the conditions of the actual blockade of the Black Sea Fleet and the impossibility of making demands on it from courts from other fleets. Nikolaev could become a shipbuilding base for the Black Sea Fleet.
In addition, interest is needed for the domestic military-industrial complex Research Rocket and Space Enterprises of Ukraine – Yuzhmash in the Dnieper and Khartron and Shevchenko in Kharkov, as well as enterprises for the production of gas turbine engines in Zaporozhye and Nikolaev. Let’s not forget and let’s not forget that Russian troops are in reserve from Krivoy Rog, where the iron ore deposit is located – the only thing that may be of interest to our metallurgists in Ukraine.
All of the above cities are close to the front line, so there is an initiative to ensure that they stay already “on this” side. But will it work out in the coming months.